Washington (3-3) at Tampa Bay (3-3)
When: Wednesday, May 23rd 2018
Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: NBCS
Opening Odds: Tampa Bay -152/5.5
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The Washington Capitals have been involved in many Game 7s in the past, but this will be one of the more bigger ones in their history as a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals is on the line. Standing in their way are the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are 5-2 (3-0 home) all-time in a Game 7, and had a chance to clinch the series on Monday, but were out-muscled by the Capitals in a 3-0 setback. Washington was in desperation-mode in Game 6 and outhit the Lightning every chance they got, while Braden Holtby turned aside all 24 shots he faced. Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, and Brooks Orpik led the charge in the physical Game 6, throwing their bodies around all night. Orpik separated Cedric Paquette from the puck twice on one shift as the Capitals outhit (39-19) and outshot (34-24) Tampa Bay. The road team won each of the first four meetings in this series, but the home team has prevailed in the latest two contests. Washington’s Barry Trotz, who has coached 107 playoff games in his career and 1,524 in the regular season, told reporters, “This team has done a lot of special things this year. It’s grown. It continues to do that. What an opportunity. … We’ll see if we can earn the right to keep playing.” The Capitals have killed off all three power plays in the last two games after giving up six in 14 attempts over the first four contests of the series. The winner will play the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals beginning Saturday.
Washington recorded 17 takeaways in Game 6, while right winger T.J. Oshie scored two of the three goals and has seven points in the series while Nicklas Backstrom set up a pair for his first points in three games since returning from a hand injury. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov had an assist Monday to extend his point streak to nine games and has 23 overall – a franchise playoff record. Holtby recorded his fifth career shutout in the playoffs Monday and owns a .929 save percentage in 76 postseason games.
Tampa Bay has been outshot 209-145 in the series, and have not scored a goal since 33 seconds into the second period of Game 5 on Saturday night. Right wing Nikita Kucherov, who leads the team with 17 points in the playoffs, and Steven Stamkos each managed one shot on net in Game 6 while combining for a -3 rating. Forward Tyler Johnson has not scored a goal in the last nine games after recording three in the first seven playoff contests.
Let’s throw out the betting line in this game as we’re not looking for line-value in a Game 7. Who is going to win this game? Right now, the momentum is with the Capitals. I think they figured out in Game 6 what they have to do to fluster the Lightning offense. I feel they will use that same mentality (desperation) in this Game 7 and pull off another road victory.
Pick: Capitals +125
- Capitals are 11-2 in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Capitals are 5-1 in their last 6 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Capitals are 14-3 in their last 17 road games.
- Capitals are 4-1 in their last 5 Wednesday games.
- Capitals are 72-26 in their last 98 vs. Atlantic.
- Capitals are 78-33 in their last 111 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Capitals are 49-21 in their last 70 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Capitals are 7-3 in their last 10 games following a win.
- Capitals are 21-9 in their last 30 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Capitals are 23-10 in their last 33 overall.
- Capitals are 11-5 in their last 16 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Lightning are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Lightning are 6-1 in their last 7 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Lightning are 39-12 in their last 51 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Lightning are 43-17 in their last 60 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Lightning are 37-15 in their last 52 home games.
- Lightning are 14-6 in their last 20 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Lightning are 35-16 in their last 51 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Lightning are 15-7 in their last 22 vs. Metropolitan.
- Lightning are 73-35 in their last 108 overall.
- Lightning are 37-18 in their last 55 Wednesday games.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Capitals last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Capitals last 4 overall.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Capitals last 4 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Capitals last 4 vs. Atlantic.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Capitals last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Capitals last 4 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Capitals last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 22-7-3 in Capitals last 32 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Capitals last 5 road games.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Capitals last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 19-9-4 in Capitals last 32 games following a win.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Lightning last 4 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Lightning last 4 overall.
- Under is 5-0 in Lightning last 5 Wednesday games.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Lightning last 4 vs. Metropolitan.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Lightning last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Lightning last 4 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 4-0-3 in Lightning last 7 following a loss of 3 or more goals.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Lightning last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 16-6-4 in Lightning last 26 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Under is 2-0-2 in the last 4 meetings.
- Over is 12-4-1 in the last 17 meetings in Tampa Bay.
- Road team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
