The Pittsburgh Penguins face the Washington Capitals in a Metropolitan Division with huge playoff implications. The Capitals are up one point on the Penguins with 22 games remaining. This is a very tough stretch, with 6 of the next 7 games on the road for Washington. As for Pittsburgh, they are coming off a home victory on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Penguins are in the middle of some home cooking, as they have 6 of 8 games at home. Both teams have each won a game in the season series, but the bigger question is which of these two teams can make a serious run to the postseason?
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Betting Odds
| Team | Puck Line | Total | MoneyLine |
| Pittsburgh Penguins |
-1.5 +145 |
U 6.5 -122 |
-170 |
| Washington Capitals |
+1.5 -175 |
O 6.5 +102 |
+142
|
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Match Details
Fixture: Washington Capitals @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Date and Time: March 7, 2024 @ 7:08 p.m.
Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Pittsburgh Penguins | vs | Washington Capitals |
| 28-24-8 | Record | 28-23-9 |
| 2.95 | Goals Per Game | 2.62 |
| 32.9 | Shots Per Game | 27.2 |
| 15.3% | Power Play | 18.8% |
| 55.3% | Faceoff | 46.7% |
| 435 | Penalty Minutes | 504 |
| 2.78 | Goals Against Per Game | 3.15 |
| 30.1 | Shots Against Per Game | 30.4 |
| 82.3% | Penalty Kill | 79.3% |
Key Stats
Pittsburgh Penguins
- Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins in goals (32), points (63), and power-play points (17).
- The big injury for Pittsburgh is Jake Guentzel, who has been out long-term with an upper body injury. Guentzel is skating again but will be out on Thursday.
- Some other Penguins who are day-to-day and will be game-time decisions are Drew O’Connor, Jansen Harkins, and Noel Acciari.
- The Penguins are 2-3 in the last 5, which included losing the final three of their West Coast trip.
Washington Capitals
- Surprisingly, it is not Alex Ovechkin leading the Capitals in points, but instead it is Dylan Strome. The center leads the team in goals (22) and points (47). Ovechkin does lead the team in power-play goals (7) and power-play points (18).
- The team did make a major move on Tuesday, as they traded Anthony Mantha to the Vegas Golden Knights for two draft picks.
- However, the team did lock up one of their defenseman, Rasmus Sandin, who signed a five-year extension.
- T. J. Oshie (upper body), Martin Fehervary (lower body) and Nic Dowd (upper body) are all out on Thursday due to injuries.
- The team is 2-2-1, including a bad home loss to the Arizona Coyotes, 5-2.
Match Prediction
In a matchup with two division foes who are both trying to make it into the playoffs, I look at the deciding factor. That factor is home ice. The Penguins are 16-10-4 at home and are currently on a three-game home winning streak. The game does have a feel of being a low-scoring matchup. When division rivals get together, and points are a necessity, I feel Pittsburgh, with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and others, will find a way to win this game. Washington trading Mantha perhaps is them waving the flag, but this extended time on the road could decide their fate.
Final Pick
Pittsburgh +1.5 (175) and under 6.5 (-122)
About the author
David has been following all types of sports since he was a kid. While Phillies baseball is his primary focus, David can talk about the Flyers, Eagles, 76ers, Union, MLB, MLS and college sports. He does computer work in Pennsylvania and does stats work for another sports company. Follow him on X at @weightmanstats and follow us at @TotalApexSports
