Monday NHL Opening Odds
(The Spread) – Two of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, have not exactly been playing like it lately.
Both the Capitals (31-19-10) and the Penguins (36-19-5) have been less than consistent in the month of February, making it difficult for either team to move up in the standings. With Washington hosting Pittsburgh at 7:30PM EST on Versus Monday night, both teams will get the opportunity to gain ground at the expense of the other.
Oddsmakers and online sports book Sportsbook.com have listed the Capitals as -130 favorites, while the over-under is set at 5.5. According to the latest trends, Washington is 12-6 versus Pittsburgh over the past three seasons. Pittsburgh is 18-7 revenging a loss against an opponent this season.
The Capitals have won just four of their nine games in the month of February, but are coming off a 2-1 victory Sunday at Buffalo. Washington hosted Pittsburgh on Feb. 6 and defeated the Penguins 3-0.
After winning its first three games this month, Pittsburgh has gone just 2-5 since as it struggles to cope with the absence of stars Sydney Crosby (66 points in 41 games and Evgeni Malkin (37 points in 43 games) due to injuries.
Superstar Alexander Ovechkin (23 goals, 38 assists) has not been his usual self much of this season, yet has a total of two goals and three assists in his last three contests.
In other NHL action, the New York Islanders are home to face the Florida Panthers at 1:00PM EST. The Islanders are -115 favorites and the over-under is 5.5. The St. Louis Blues entertain the division rival Chicago Blackhawks at 2:00PM EST. St. Louis is a -110 favorite with an over-under sitting at 5.5.
51 Florida Panthers-105 (5.5)
52 New York Islanders -115
53 Chicago Blackhawks -110 (5.5)
54 St. Louis Blues -110
55 Washington Capitals -130 (5.5)
56 Pittsburgh Penguins +110
For a complete list of opening odds for Monday, February 21, 2011, see below.
NHL Opening Odds, Lines & Over/Under Totals
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