NHL Knowledge
Pittsburgh-Washington
Washington D Orpik is out two more games (suspension); he is their most physical defenseman, and a solid penalty killer; now Pitt's LeTang is out here-- Penguins are 2-8-1 this season when he didn't play.. Visiting team is 6-4 in last ten series games. Caps outshot Pitt 49-33 in Game 3, 35-15 in last two periods, but 3-0 lead was too much to overcome- they didn't make it 3-2 until last minute. Penguins are 0-10 on power play in series, Washington 1-10. Pens won 10 of last 13 games; over is 7-3-2 in their last 12 games. Under is 6-2-2 in Washington's last ten games. Caps split their last four visits here.
Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 8-4, Over: 6-2-4
Armadillosports.com
Wednesday's Stanley Cup Playoffs NHL Betting Preview: Capitals at Penguins
By Covers.com
The Penguins and Capitals get the spotlight as the lone Stanley Cup Playoffs game on the board Wednesday. The Caps will need to steal a game in Pittsburgh after losing home ice advantage with a loss in Game 2.
Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins (A: -115, H: -105, O/U: 5)
If the host Pittsburgh Penguins hope to push the reigning Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals to the brink of elimination on Wednesday, they'll need to accomplish the feat without their top two defensemen. Kris Letang was suspended for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series for his hit on Capitals forward Marcus Johansson in Pittsburgh's 3-2 victory in Game 3.
With Letang's traditional defense partner Olli Maatta (upper body) expected to sit out on Wednesday, the Penguins will need a boost from blue-liners Derrick Pouliot and Justin Schultz as they enter Game 4 with a 2-1 edge in the series. "He's impossible to replace, really," Schultz said of Letang, who has logged nearly 97 1/2 minutes of ice time in the series and recorded seven points (one goal, six assists) in the playoffs. Washington coach Barry Trotz was quick to praise Letang's ability, but noted that he doesn't expect Pittsburgh to alter its style. "I don't think they're going to change their philosophy or anything like that," Trotz said. "I think they're just going to have to fill the void as we are trying to do with (defenseman) Brooks (Orpik) out, if there's anything to come of that."
PROBABLE GOALIES:
Capitals - Braden Holtby (W/L 5-4, GAA: 1.44, SAVE %: 0.925)
Penguins - Matt Murray (W/L 5-1, GAA: 1.79, SAVE %: 0.935)
INJURY REPORT:
Capitals - D B. Orpik (Out Wednesday, suspension), LW M. Johansson (Questionable Wednesday, upper body).
Penguins - D K. Letang (Out Wednesday, suspension), RW B. Bennett (Questionable Wednesday, shoulder), D O. Maatta (Questionable Wednesday, head), RW B. Rust (Questionable Wednesday, foot).
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (61-22-8, 41-50 ATS, 35-38 O/U): Forward Stanislav Galiev participated on the second line in Tuesday's practice in place of Johansson (upper body), who will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. "Just some issues with my neck right now, but I passed all the other tests," Johansson said. "I did not hit the ice ... got a little whiplash, I think, and it is what it is." Should Johansson sit out, Andre Burakovsky would likely move to the second line while Galiev would play on the wing with the third line.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (54-27-9, 43-47 ATS, 40-34 O/U): While rookie Matt Murray turned aside a staggering 47 shots in Game 3, Marc-Andre Fleury did his best to fend off frustration as the franchise goaltender finds himself in the backup role following his second concussion of the season. "I love to play. I love the game," the 31-year-old Fleury said. "... I wish I could play, but that's how it is and that's fine." Murray, 21, posted a 9-2-1 mark in the regular season and has won five of six starts in the playoffs in place of Fleury, who is the franchise's all-time wins leader (357) and has guided the club to the Stanley Cup in 2009.
TRENDS:
* Capitals are 1-5 in their last 6 Conference Semifinals games.
* Penguins are 22-5 in their last 27 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Under is 4-0-1 in Capitals last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
* Over is 7-1-4 in Penguins last 12 vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Capitals are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings.
WASHINGTON (61-22-0-8, 130 pts.) at PITTSBURGH (54-27-0-9, 117 pts.) - 5/4/2016, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 54-36 ATS (+8.5 Units) in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 36-17 ATS (+8.3 Units) second half of the season this season.
PITTSBURGH is 25-13 ATS (+7.1 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
WASHINGTON is 61-30 ATS (+13.3 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 21-11 ATS (+7.1 Units) in a road game where where the total is 5 or less this season.
WASHINGTON is 14-4 ATS (+9.0 Units) in road games after a division game this season.
WASHINGTON is 48-26 ATS (+15.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 92-105 ATS (-33.8 Units) in a home game where where the total is 5 or less since 1996.
PITTSBURGH is 13-18 ATS (-18.7 Units) in home games when leading in a playoff series since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 10-6 (+3.3 Units) against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PITTSBURGH is 10-6-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Under=+3.7 Units)
WASHINGTON vs. PITTSBURGH
Washington is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
Washington at Pittsburgh
Washington: 12-4 SU in road games revenging a road loss versus opponent
Pittsburgh: 13-18 SU in home games when leading in a playoff series