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Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 1-2-2024
The Washington Capitals face the Pittsburgh Penguins with both teams having promising seasons. The Capitals have a 17-11-6 record and are in the middle of the Metropolitan Division but have lost four games in a row while the Penguins have an 18-13-4 record but with three wins in a row, they have leaped out of the bottom of the division. Both teams look to improve in the division and the Eastern Conference and the upcoming game should be a great one as a result.
We have the best NHL Predictions sure to provide a great payout.
Capitals hope offense improves
The Capitals are having a promising season but hope their offense improves, scoring only 2.29 goals per game with only five goals in the last four games. Dylan Strome and Alexander Ovechkin have scored 20 goals and 22 assists to lead the top line but the rest of the offense has struggled. Only four skaters have seven goals or more and opponents can eliminate the hapless offense as a result.
The offense has struggled but the defense has stepped up, allowing only 2.79 goals per game. John Carlson and Rasmus Sandin have combined for 4.2 defensive point shares and 137 blocked shots while Nick Jensen, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Martin Fehervary have combined for 4.1 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. In addition, goaltender Charlie Lindgren has stepped up with a .928 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average on 446 shots with 11.3 goals saved above average.
Penguins defense is turning season around
The Penguins have rebounded in recent games with their offense starting to improve, scoring 3.00 goals per game including 14 goals in the last three games. Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Evgeni Malkin have scored 50 goals and 57 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has stepped up as well. Reilly Smith, Drew O’Connor, and Lars Eller have combined for 18 goals and 24 assists while defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang have added nine goals and 37 assists from the point to open up the offense.
The offense has been great but the defense has carried the Penguins, allowing only 2.63 goals per game with only three goals in the last three games. Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson have combined for 5.7 defensive point shares and 99 blocked shots while Kris Letang and Ryan Graves have combined for 4.9 defensive point shares to add depth to the unit. Additionally, goaltender Tristan Jarry has been great with a .916 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average on 655 shots with 8.7 goals saved above average.
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Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Rating:
The Capitals are looking to pull off the upset but the Penguins have looked great in recent games and look to control this game from the first period. The Penguins, who average 3.00 goals per game, should create plenty of scoring chances with Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and the rest of the forward unit carrying the puck into the offensive zone and creating open shots with quick passes. The Penguins, who allow only 2.63 goals per game, should limit the Capitals offense, which averages only 2.29 goals per game, with Marcus Pettersson, Erik Karlsson, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Tristan Jarry to make plenty of big saves. The Penguins should win the game with a strong performance on their home ice.
Take the Penguins money line as home Favorites.
Prediction: Penguins (-170)
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Rating:
Both teams are led by their defenses and the upcoming game should reflect that with both defensive units stepping up and taking over this game from the opening puck drop. The Capitals, who allow only 2.79 goals per game, should limit the Penguins’ offense with John Carlson, Rasmus Sandin, and the rest of the defensive unit creating turnovers in the defensive zone and limiting shots on the net, allowing goaltender Charlie Lindgren to make plenty of big saves. The Penguins, who have only allowed three goals in their last three games, should eliminate and potentially shut out the Capitals, who have scored only five goals in their last four games, with Marcus Pettersson, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and the rest of the defensive unit forcing turnovers in the neutral zone and defensive zone while goaltender Tristan Jarry blanks the shots on the net. The Under should cover in a low-scoring game controlled by both defenses.
Take the Under on 6 goals.
Prediction: Under 6
Vegas allowed two power-play goals on Pittsburgh’s four chances after giving up one on 12 opportunities the previous four games.
“I think we just had poor execution all game long,” Golden Knights forward Reilly Smith said. “Obviously, our penalty kill has been pretty good for us and that wasn’t good enough tonight.”
Rickard Rakell pushed it to 4-0 on another power play at 15:06, stopping a shot from Karlsson with his left skate and wrapping a shot around Hill.
Brazeau scored on a wrist shot from above the right circle at 14:59 of the third period for the 5-0 final.
“Second period, they took it to us,” McNabb said. “We were out of it, basically.”
NOTES: With goals from Kindel, Chinakhov and Brazeau, the Penguins have 73 goals by players in their first season with the team. It’s the most in the NHL this season and 13 more than the next closest (the Anaheim Ducks, 59). … The Golden Knights have been outscored 9-1 in the first and second periods of their first three games out of the break for the Olympics. … Karlsson has 908 points (204 goals, 704 assists), tied with Scott Stevens (908 points; 196 goals, 712 assists) for the 13th-most by a defenseman in League history. … Vegas forward Mitch Marner had a point streak end at six games (seven points; four goals, three assists).
Vegas Golden Knights (28-17-14, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (30-15-13, in the Metropolitan Division)
Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Golden Knights -149, Penguins +125; over/under is 6.5
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights square off in a non-conference matchup.
Pittsburgh has a 14-8-7 record at home and a 30-15-13 record overall. The Penguins have scored 197 total goals (3.4 per game) to rank 10th in NHL play.
Vegas is 28-17-14 overall and 14-9-7 in road games. The Golden Knights are 27-6-8 in games they score at least three goals.
Sunday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Mantha has 21 goals and 23 assists for the Penguins. Benjamin Kindel has six goals and one assist over the last 10 games.
Mark Stone has 21 goals and 38 assists for the Golden Knights. Pavel Dorofeyev has seven goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 7-1-2, averaging 4.2 goals, 7.1 assists, 3.3 penalties and 6.9 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.
Golden Knights: 4-4-2, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Penguins: None listed.
Golden Knights: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz needs to have a great season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 and his strong Spring Training continued in their most recent victory.
Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Jayden Murray in the top of the fifth inning, playing a big role in the 5-2 victory at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla.
He waited on a changeup on the second pitch, 85.1 mph over the middle of the plate and sent it 106.4 mph off the bat and 368 feet, scoring both left fielder Billy Cook and third baseman Alika Williams with two outs.
That marks the first home run for Cruz in the Grapefruit League, who has had a great Spring Training so far, slashing .538/.600/.846 for an OPS of 1.446 in five games, with seven hits in 13 at-bats.
Pittsburgh got the win after the top of the sixth inning, after a rain delay ended the game.
Pirates Rookie Pitchers Have Up-And-Down Showing vs. Astros
Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his second start for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and dominated vs. the Astros.
Ashcraft threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and a walk, while posting two strikeouts for Pittsburgh.
Former Pirates pitcher, right-handed starter Mike Burrows, countered Ashcraft for the Astros. He threw three scoreless innings himself, allowed one hit and a walk and posted four strikeouts.
The Pirates traded Burrows to the Houston Astros in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 19, that landed them second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Jake Mangum and left-handed relief pitcher Mason Montgomery.
Right-handed pitcher Bubba Chandler made his second appearance for the Pirates in the Grapefruit League and threw two innings.
Chandler immediately loaded the bases, walking both third baseman Carlos Correa and first baseman Christian Walker, then giving up a single to center fielder Cam Smith.
He came back and struckout right fielder Taylor Trammell and got left fielder Zach Dezenzo to pop out, but gave up a single to second baseman Brice Matthews and a run to the Astros, before ending the inning with a strikeout.
Chandler also gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, on a slider down in the zone.
He finished his outing with three hits, three walks and two earned runs allowed over 1.1 innings pitched, before left-handed pitcher Derek Diamond got the last two outs of the inning.
Chandler struggled in his first Spring Training start vs. the New York Yankees at LECOM Park in Bradenton on Feb. 23, where he allowed four earned runs over 1.2 innings of work.
The Pirates will need better showings from Chandler, who should serve as a key piece of their starting rotation in 2026.
Other Important Notes from Pirates Victory
The Pirates added two runs in the top of the sixth inning, as Cook hit a single that scored second baseman Nick Yorke and then Williams singled, scoring Cook to make it a 5-2 ball game.
Cook had just one hit in eight at-bats coming into this game and scored twice in the victory, as he walked before the Cruz home run.
Designated hitter Marcell Ozuna led the Pirates with two hits, a good sign for them, as they’ll rely on him greatly for his power and hitting in 2026.
The Pirates are now 7-2 in the Grapefruit League and tied with the Yankees for the top of the standings.
Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!
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