The Washington Capitals (-315) host the Columbus Blue Jackets (+255) at Capital One Arena on Sunday. The total is 6.5 (O: -110, U: -110)Columbus (12-24-2) is playing on back-to-back days after earning a 4-3 shootout win over the Hurricanes yesterday. The Blue Jackets committed seven penalties in the game, conceding two power play goals.
Kirill Marchenko was the only player to find the net, scoring a hat trick for the Blue Jackets. Joonas Korpisalo saved an impressive 39 of 42 shots (.928%) in the win.
Washington (22-14-6) fell 3-2 to the Predators on Friday. Sonny Milano and Nicolas Aube-Kubel both scored once for the Capitals. Charlie Lindgren only had 18 saves on 21 shots against (.857%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Capitals won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-2 victory on January 5. Dylan Strome led Washington with three points (0G 3A). Emil Bemstrom led Columbus with two points (0G 2A). Darcy Kuemper got the win, saving 25 of 27 shots (.925%).
FACING OFF
Columbus is averaging 2.61 goals per game for the season, 30th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Capitals team that is allowing 2.76 goals a game (9th). Meanwhile, Washington has found the net 3.31 times a game on average, 10th in the league, and the Blue Jackets are allowing opponents to score 3.95 goals per game (31st).
Columbus averages fewer shots a game (28.8) than most teams in the league, ranking 29th, while the team’s 9.1% shooting percentage is 27th. Washington’s average of 31.7 attempts ranks 16th. The Blue Jackets’ 16.67% power play percentage is the fourth-lowest in the league, while the Capitals rank 16th with a conversion rate of 22.39%.
In terms of defending power plays, Washington has the league’s 10th-ranked PK% at 81.36%, while Columbus is 18th at 76.19%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 38 points this season, Johnny Gaudreau is the top skater for the Blue Jackets. He has 11 goals and 27 assists in 38 games. In the net, Korpisalo (5-7-1) is Columbus’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.13 GAA and a .911% save percentage.
Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals in scoring with 48 points (8th in the league). He has 29 goals (3rd in the league) and 19 assists. Kuemper (11-9-4) has the best goals against average for Washington at 2.56. He has a save percentage of .916%.
HOME AND AWAY
Columbus has dropped eight straight away from home this season. Washington is 12-6-3 at Capital One Arena this season. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets are 2-4 without a day off and 1-2 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Capitals are 1-1 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Columbus Blue Jackets (+260)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
