Capitals vs. Senators prediction: NHL odds, pick, best bets
The Ottawa Senators have answered the call so far this season.
Under serious pressure to get out of the gates hot due to high expectations and a reputation for starting slow, the Sens are 2-1 following consecutive strong performances against the Flyers and Lightning.
It’s only three games, but the early signs are encouraging for Ottawa.
The Senators are now -166 home favorites over the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.
Capitals vs. Senators pick
While it seemed like everyone was on the same page when it came to projecting the Senators for 2023-24, it was really anybody’s guess how the Capitals would perform.
The Caps hired a new head coach in the summer, but returned an aging core that really struggled in the second half of last season.
Washington still had clear strengths, including a solid goaltending tandem, but its roster lacked depth and the team doesn’t have any bona fide prospects ready for primetime roles just yet.
Nonetheless, there is still enough skill on this team to be dangerous.
Alex Ovechkin is a prolific goalscorer, Tom Wilson is a safe bet for a bounce-back year after battling injuries and John Carlson’s return to the lineup give Spencer Carbery a No. 1 defenseman that he can rely on in any situation.
The problem is that beyond the stars — who are all past their salad days — the Caps don’t offer much threat.
That’s been especially true on defense, as Washington has really struggled to keep up at 5-on-5 in two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames.
Through two games, the Caps have surrendered 20 high-danger scoring chances and five expected goals at 5-on-5. If it wasn’t from a great performance from Darcy Kuemper in goal Monday night, they’d be 0-2.
Betting on the NHL?
- Read our expert guide on how to bet on the NHL
Washington’s offense hasn’t been much better, either, as the Caps have only generated a measly eight high-danger chances and 2.75 expected goals at 5-on-5.
Ottawa is in good form and perhaps the most notable part of its game right now is a defense that looks like it is trending towards being a significant strength this season.
The Sens should have enough firepower and defensive stability to get some separation against the struggling Capitals.
The bet: Ottawa Senators -1.5 (+150)
