Posted at 2:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle  -½ +148 BET365 -½ +150 Sportsinteraction -½ +145  888Sport -½ +150

Pittsburgh -½ +150 over Washington

7:07 PM EST. Regulation only. The Capitals were once one of the hottest teams in hockey, but that run defied logic as they post a -34 goal differential despite currently holding the final playoff spot. The Caps have now lost three straight games as they come crashing down to earth, and there is no reason to believe their slide is not going to continue, as they get outplayed nearly every single night. Washington has been outshot in eight straight games, the last three, badly: 35-to-25 at Buffalo, 29-to-20 versus Boston, and 48-to-24 at Toronto. The Caps are hanging on by a thread to that last playoff spot with three teams nipping at their heels, including their opposition tonight.

Don’t look now, but the Penguins are not dead yet, as they are three points back of the Capitals for the final Wild Card spot, with the Islanders and Red Wings ahead of them, but both of those teams are on shaky ground at the moment. Meanwhile, the Pens have won two straight games and four of their last five. With seven games remaining, Pittsburgh plays the Caps, Red Wings, and Islanders so there is much left to be determined. The Pens are scoring in bunches at the moment, putting up six goals against the Devils on Tuesday night and five against the Rangers on Monday night..

About a week ago, Sidney Crosby said to one of the Pens radio broadcasters that they were, “still in this thing,” and since then, The Kid has put his team on his back, as he brings a six-game point streak into tonight. The Penguins can’t wait to get back on the ice tonight, while the Caps are gripping their sticks so tight they’ve got splinters. A coin flip this is not. Play the Pens straight up if you choose, but there is too much value in them to win in regulation or on the 3-way line that we are not going to pass it up.

Sherwood

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