Vegas Golden Knights at Washington Capitals odds, picks and predictions
The Vegas Golden Knights (12-2-1) open a 5-game road trip on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals (7-4-2) at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Golden Knights vs. Capitalsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Golden Knights posted a 5-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Friday, halting a season-high 2-game losing streak. Vegas allowed 8 total goals (4 each) in the 2-game slide, and the Knights managed just 3 total goals of offense. Against the Eastern Conference, VGK has won both of its games, both at home.
The Capitals have picked up wins in each of the past 2 outings, and 3 of the past 4, going 3-0-1 during the span. Against the Western Conference, Washington has won all 3 meetings, with 2 of the games decided in a shootout at home.
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Golden Knights at Capitals odds
FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:22 a.m. ET.
Golden Knights at Capitals projected goalies
Logan Thompson (5-1-0, 2.31 GAA, .923 SV%) vs. Darcy Kuemper (3-3-2, 3.07 GAA, .892 SV%)
Thompson saw his 5-game winning streak come to an end last time out at Anaheim on Nov. 5, allowing 3 goals on 22 shots. He has still allowed 3 or fewer goals in each of his 6 starts. Thompson also won his only start against an Eastern Conference team, the Philadelphia Flyers, on Oct. 24 with 26 saves on 28 shots.
Kuemper allowed 4 goals on 25 shots in a 4-3 OT loss against the visiting Florida Panthers last time out, and he is 0-1-1 with a 3.55 GAA and .848 SV% in 2 starts since flipping the calendar from October to November.
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Golden Knights at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Golden Knights 4, Capitals 3
The GOLDEN KNIGHTS (-154) is a solid play as a moderate favorite. Vegas has picked up 6 straight wins against the Metropolitan Division, while going 20-7 in the past 27 games on the road. In addition, VGK is quite rested, and it is 6-1 in the past 7 games when playing on 3 or more days of rest.
The Capitals (+128) have dropped each of the past 5 meetings with the Golden Knights, while the favorite is 7-1 in the past 8 in this series.
The Capitals +1.5 (-196) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return if you'd like a little bit of insurance. That's too much risk and not enough reward. While the home team is 6-2 in the past 8 meetings, that's just too expensive.
AVOID.
OVER 5.5 (-134) is worth a look.
The Over has cashed in 7 of the past 10 meetings in this series. The Over is also 4-0 in the past 4 games playing on 3 or more days of rest for the Golden Knights, too.
While the Capitals have cashed the Under in 7 of the past 8 games at home, again, when the Golden Knights are involved, the totals tend to go high.
