Over the years, we have seen NHL playoff series turn on a single event. Game 3 of the series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals had two such events, and those moments may be what alters the course of this series in favor of the Capitals. The first big moment came when Sidney Crosby of the Penguins took a vicious crosscheck to the head in the opening period. He was taken off, and did not return for the remainder of the game. The second big turning point came when Ryan Shattenkirk scored the winning goal for the Capitals in OT, as that goal prevented them from going down 3-0 in the series and moving to the brink of elimination. Playoff series tend to be all about momentum, and it’s fair to say that the Capitals swung things in their direction with this big win. It’s a big win, but the Caps are still in trouble, as they have one more game to play in Pittsburgh before heading home. It goes without saying that they would feel a whole lot better going back with this series tied. Find the latest NHL betting odds here.
In Depth Analysis On The Capitals At Penguins NHL Game 4 Winning Predictions
When: Wednesday, May 3 at 7:30 PM EST
Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh
TV: NBCSN, CBC, TVAS
Live Stream: NHL.TV
NHL Odds: Washington Capitals -1½ (+250)
Why bet on the Washington Capitals
The Game 3 win for the Capitals was a huge one, but they still showed why they are always an iffy bet in the postseason. Despite facing a team that had been reduced to 10 forwards after losing Crosby and Sheary to injury, the Capitals still allowed the Penguins to peg back a 2-goal deficit to take it into OT. Had the Penguins gone on to win that one under those circumstances, you would then have placed money on this series being a sweep. You need to give credit to the Capitals for maintaining their poise in what was a truly hostile atmosphere on Tuesday night, but can they come out and do it again on back to back nights?
Why bet on the Pittsburgh Penguins
As is always the case with the NHL playoffs, we are probably not going to know the status of Crosby until the very last minute. He is currently listed as day to day, and there have been reports out of Pittsburgh that he was seen leaving the arena on his own two feet, telling people that he is fine. The status of Crosby could have a major impact on this game, because even if he does dress for it, is he going to have his ice time limited? Are the Penguins going to panic if he doesn’t play, or are they going to play with a chip on their shoulder? This series is just now starting to warm up, and Game 4 could be explosive.
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
It’s tough to make a prediction without knowing whether one of the best players in the game will be active. The Pens showed some real guts after Crosby left the ice on Tuesday night, and I think that carries over to Game 4.
