No matter the professional sport, it’s always incredibly tough to stay at the top for an extended period of time. Players come and go in free agency, trades don’t always work out for the best, and the best players in the game all get older and become less productive. There is a reason why winning back to back Stanley Cup’s has become such a difficult task over the past 10-15 years. Winning it once is no guarantee that a team will get back to the top, or even back into the playoff for that matter.
The Washington Capitals won it all a couple of seasons ago, but they failed to repeat last year and are off to a mediocre start this season. They are perhaps a little unfortunate in the early going, as they tend to be losing the close games more often than not. Washington will have a tricky outing on their hands on Saturday night when they head to Dallas to face a Stars that has already beaten them this season. Will the capitals get their revenge, or will the Dallas Stars take them down again?
Let’s make some NHL Betting predictions!
Capitals vs Stars NHL Week 2 Betting Lines & Expert Pick
- When: Saturday, October 12 at 8 PM EST
- Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- Radio: SiriusXM
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Odds: Dallas Stars -130
Islanders vs Hurricanes NHL Spread, Game Info & Prediction
Why bet on the Washington Capitals?
We mentioned earlier that the years eventually begin to catch up with the best players in the league. At 34, Alexander Ovechkin is certainly not over the hill, but you do wonder how much longer he can continue to produce big numbers. Through the opening 5 games of the season, where the Capitals have gone 2-1-2, Ovechkin has 3 goals, which has him on pace for 49 this season, right around the number he has consistently delivered over the last 6 or 7 seasons.
While the Caps have lost 3 games this season, 2 of those defeats came in OT or a SO, so they are still picking up points, which is always good. They now have 3 losses in a row, though, so they will want to snap out of this slump sooner rather than later. The Capitals are 3-9 SU in their last 12 games versus Central Division opponents.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.50
- Shots: 32.00
- PP/PK Percentage: 12.50
- Goals: 2.50
- Shots: 25.50
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.18
Why bet on the Dallas Stars?
It’s perhaps a little too early to cast judgment on the Dallas Stars given their early strength of schedule and the number of games they have played on the road. Through the opening 5 games of the season, Dallas has gone 1-3-1, but they have also played the Boston Bruins, last season’s Stanley Cup Finalists, the Calgary Flames, the best team in the West last season, and the Washington Capitals, to name just a few.
Every single game that they have played this season has been decided by a single goal, so it’s not as if they are being blown out or look outclassed. The one win that the Stars do have this season came in a 4-3 victory over the Capitals on the road. 4 of the last 5 meetings between these two in Dallas have gone OVER.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.50
- Shots: 26.75
- PP/PK Percentage: 0.00
- Goals: 3.00
- Shots: 28.75
- PP/PK Percentage: 10.53
Ducks vs Blue Jackets 2019 NHL Lines & Game Preview
Capitals vs Stars NHL Betting Trends
- Nationals are 3-9 SU in their last 12 games against an opponent in the Central division
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Dallas
- Stars are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Dallas’ last 16 games against an opponent in the East conference
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Capitals vs Stars
Given how things have gone with Dallas this season, I believe we are looking at another close one. I would not be stunned to see this one go to OT, but at the end of the night, I think it will be the Capitals that grind out the win.
Score: Washington Capitals 4 – Dallas Stars 3
