Wild vs Capitals Prediction
The Minnesota Wild will play the Washington Capitals on Friday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Minnesota has lost three of their last four games, while Washington has also dropped three of four.
Wild Preview
The Minnesota Wild are 3-3-1 this season after they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 6-2 on Thursday. Minnesota trailed 3-0 in the second period, but they cut the lead to 3-2 in the third, before Philadelphia pulled away. The Wild were out shot by a total of 35-28 and allowed two power play goals in the loss. Minnesota did defeat Edmonton in the game prior by a score of 7-4. The Minnesota Wild are scoring 4.17 goals per game and they are allowing 4.17 goals against per game, while going 17.4% on the power play and 78.9% on the penalty kill coming into Thursday’s game. Kirill Kaprizov has led the Wild this season with two goals, seven assists, and 25 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Minnesota is Marc-Andre Fleury, who is 1-1-0 this year with a 3.55 goals against average and a .868 save percentage.
Capitals Preview
The Washington Capitals are 2-3-1 this year after they defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 6-4 in their last game. Washington scored three goals in the first period, but allowed four goals in the second, before scoring three unanswered goals in the third for the win. The Capitals out shot New Jersey by a total of 25-22 and went 1-3 on the power play in the game. Washington had lost three games in a row to Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. The Washington Capitals are scoring 2.00 goals per game and they are allowing 3.83 goals against per game, while going 10.5% on the power play and 69.6% on the penalty kill. Alex Ovechkin has led the Capitals this season with two goals, three assists, and 27 shots on goal. The projected starting goalie for Washington is Darcy Kuemper, who is 1-2-1 this year with a 3.67 goals against average and a .868 save percentage.
Washington Capitals Team Facts
- The Capitals have lost four of their last five games as favorites.
- The Capitals have failed to cover the puck line in 11 of their last 12 games as home favorites against opponents who are on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Capitals have lost the third period in each of their last four games at Capital One Arena following a road win.
- The 'Over 1.5 Goals Period 2' market has hit in each of the Capitals' last seven games following a road win.
Minnesota Wild Team Facts
- The Wild have won three of their last four games as underdogs against the Capitals.
- The Wild have covered the puck line in each of their last six games as underdogs on the second leg of a back-to-back.
- The Wild have won the third period in four of their last five night games at Capital One Arena.
- The 'Over 1.5 Goals Period 2' market has hit in each of the Wild's last six games following a road loss.
Washington Capitals Player Prop Facts
- Nicklas Backstrom has recorded at least one point in each of the Capitals' last six games as home favorites.
- Max Pacioretty has scored at least one goal in each of his last five Friday night home appearances.
- Alex Ovechkin has recorded an assist in seven of the Capitals' last eight games as favorites against the Wild.
- Dylan Strome has the most multi-point games for the Capitals this season (2).
Minnesota Wild Player Prop Facts
- Pat Maroon has recorded at least one assist in each of the Wild's last four games.
- Pat Maroon has recorded at least one point in each of the Wild's last four games.
- Joel Eriksson Ek ranks T1st in the league for Game Winning Goals (2) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Washington Capitals ranks 29th in the league in power play percentage this season (10.53%).
- The Washington Capitals ranks 28th in the league for goals against per game this season (3.83).
- The Minnesota Wild ranks 26th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (72.73%).
- The Minnesota Wild ranks T1st in the league in short handed goals allowed this season (1).
Pick
Minnesota comes into this game on the second night of a back to back after losing to Philadelphia on Thursday night. Washington has one more day of rest than Minnesota has and they will be at home for this game. The Minnesota defense has not played well to start this season, as they have allowed 6, 4, 5, 7, 2, and 7 goals in their last six games. Washington got a huge win against New Jersey last time out, where they scored six goals. I am going to fade the Minnesota defense once again and take the Capitals here.
