Every NHL betting season begins with bettors and pundits selecting the teams that they believe might serve as a dark horse. It seems odd that any had the Washington Capitals on that list, as they served notice last season that they might be ready to take a step forward. It has certainly been a good season for them so far, and they will look to continue their strong play when they take a trip to Florida to face the Panthers on Thursday night.
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Capitals vs Panthers NHL Betting Game Preview
Date: Thursday, December 10th, 2015
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: BB&T Center
Watch Online Here
Betting on the Capitals
The Capitals (19-5-2) have surged to the top of the Metropolitan Division, which they now lead by a point over the hard charging Rangers. The way in which Washington are playing right now makes them a serious threat moving forward, as they seem to have struck a perfect balance between offense and defense. This has long been a team that can score goals when they feel like it, but under Barry Trotz, they have also embraced a disciplined approach to defense that is helping them win on a regular basis. The Capitals are 5th in scoring with 3.1 goals per game, which doesn’t really come as a surprise to anyone, but their excellent 2.2 goals per game against average is something that a lot of people didn’t see coming. Add in the fact that they are also near the top in special teams, and you get a good idea as to why that dark horse label may need to be changed to Stanley Cup favorite.
Betting on the Panthers
We are now deep enough into the season to start suggesting which teams are the surprise outfits of the season. While currently sitting a point out of the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Florida Panthers (13-11-4) are deserving of the surprise tag. They have struggled in their last couple of games, losing to New Jersey and Ottawa, but those losses came on the back of a 5-game winning skid where the Panthers only gave up a total of 6 goals. This is not a team that is going to beat you with their offense, which is why they have adopted a tight, defensive style that makes them a very tough nut to crack indeed. They have another tough test after the tilt with the Capitals, as they will have to head on the road for 4 games, where they will hope to improve upon their 7-5-2 road record.
Washington vs Florida Key Betting Trends
Washington is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
]Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 12-2 SU in its last 14 games when playing Florida
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington’s last 7 games when playing Florida
Washington is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Florida
Florida is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Florida’s last 6 games
Florida is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
Florida is 2-12 SU in its last 14 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Florida’s last 7 games when playing Washington
What Should You Consider Before Placing Your Bets?
The Capitals are flying high right now, and it’s going to take a very special effort to slow them down. I’m not sure that Florida has the firepower to make that happen, which is why I’d like Washington to win on the road.