St. Louis Blues at Washington Capitals odds, picks and predictions
The St. Louis Blues (27-26-6) take on the Washington Capitals (38-12-8) Thursday. Puck drop from Capital One Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NHL odds around the Blues vs. Capitals odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Caps lead 1-0 after 8-1 laugher in St. Louis Nov. 9
The Blues have won 2 straight and have points in 3 straight after the Four Nations break. They squashed the Seattle Kraken 7-2 Tuesday. Six different players scored goals, including RW Jordan Kyrou with his 24th. Rookie RW Zack Bolduc had 2 goals the day after his 22nd birthday with his father in the crowd. The Blues are 0-7-1 this season when trying to win their third game in a row.
The Caps are coming off a 3-1 clunker Tuesday. LW Alex Ovechkin scored on the power play to give him 30 goals on the season and bring him to within 12 of Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. Ovi has 4 goals in the last 2 games and 7 goals in 7 February games. Meanwhile, the Caps are 4-1-1 in the last 6 games.
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Blues at Capitals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:57 p.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML) : Blues +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Capitals -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
: Blues +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Capitals -160 (bet $160 to win $100) Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS) : Blues +1.5 (-180) | Capitals -1.5 (+145)
: Blues +1.5 (-180) | Capitals -1.5 (+145) Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -120 | U: +100)
Blues at Capitals projected goalies
Joel Hofer (10-7-2, 2.88 GAA, .903 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Charlie Lindgren (13-9-3, 2.64 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO)
Hofer lost 4-3 in a shootout against the Winnipeg Jets Saturday, but he looked good. He stopped 25 of 28 in what was his fourth straight loss. He hasn't faced the Capitals in a couple of years, but he beat them 5-2 in March 2023 and stopped 32 of 34 fired his way.
'Chuckie Sideburns' was between the pipes Sunday in the 7-3 win over Edmonton. He stopped 22 of 25 and has won both of his February starts, stopping 41 of 47 in the process. He faced his former team in a home-and-home January of last year and went 1-1-0 with 44 saves on 49 shots.
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Blues at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Capitals 4, Blues 3
You might be wondering why the Blues are only +135 dogs when they're a .500 team, on the road and against a team that floored them 8-1 earlier this year. They've been playing like they're on life support. The NHL trade deadline is 10 days away, and they're giving everything they have to avoid becoming sellers.
It's pretty incredible that they have attempted to win 3 straight games 8 times this season and lost every time. They're the only team in the league that has not won 3 straight. Well, they'll remain such Thursday, but I could see them taking it to overtime and grabbing a point.
Take the CAPITALS -160.
The Blues are priced out of range here, but ALEX OVECHKIN OVER 0.5 POWER PLAY POINTS (+185) is a good bet. The Blues are 29th in the league with a 72.3% penalty kill.
The Caps are 7-3 O/U in their last 10, and the Blues are 4-6. This number has cashed in 6 of 7 meetings between the clubs. It's cashing again.
Take the OVER 5.5 (-120).
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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