Capitals vs. Maple Leafs Prediction
The Washington Capitals are 2-2 on their current road trip and will look to finish it with a victory tonight at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can the reigning Stanley Cup champions secure a key road win against a quality opponent?
Game Snapshot
9 Washington Capitals at 10 Toronto Maple Leafs
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Scotiabank Arena at 7:05PM ET
TV: ESPN+
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Maple Leafs are a -170 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Capitals are a +150 underdog, while the total is set at 6.5 goals. As of Thursday morning, 54 percent of public bets are siding with host Toronto. Check out our NHL Public Betting Page for up-to-date information.
Caps edge host Kings
Washington earned a 3-2 victory Monday night at Los Angeles to improve to 33-20-7 on the season. Alex Ovechkin scored his 41st goal of the season with 8:12 left in the first period to put the Capitals ahead. John Carlson and Jakub Vrana assisted on the goal. Brett Connolly made it 2-0 20 seconds later on his 14th goal of the season assisted by Andre Burakovsky and Dmitry Orlov. Ovechkin added his 42nd goal of the season on the power play 5:27 into the second period on assists from Carlson and Nicklas Backstrom to make it 3-0. Washington withstood a pair of Kings goals in the third period to hang on. Pheonix Copley made 26 saves on 28 shots in the winning effort.
Maple Leafs run into red-hot Blues
Toronto suffered a 3-2 overtime loss at a St. Louis team that has won 11 in a row Tuesday night to fall to 36-19-4 on the season. Zach Hyman cut a 2-0 deficit in half with 13:26 remaining in the third period on an unassisted goal. Auston Matthews tied it at 2-2 only 31 seconds later on his 28th goal of the season assisted by Nikita Zaitsev and Kasperi Kaspanen. The Blues scored the game-winner 34 seconds into overtime. Frederik Andersen recorded 38 saves on 41 shots to take the loss.
NHL Betting Trends
Washington
The Capitals are 5-1 in their last six Thursday games. Washington is 83-32 in its last 115 games versus the Atlantic Division.
Toronto
The Maple Leafs are 4-1 in their last five Thursday games. Toronto is 8-2 in its last 10 games versus the Metropolitan Division.
Prediction:
Washington is likely a bit road-weary even with an extra day off heading into this contest, but so is Toronto after coming home following a road trip. The Maple Leafs won their last four at home prior to the road trip and have the firepower to withstand Ovechkin and company. Andersen is having a better season than Capitals goalie Braden Holtby and that might be the difference in a game between two high-powered offenses.
NHL DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS -170