Capitals vs Penguins Picks and Predictions for January 19

The Washington Capitals dropped Sunday's game to Pittsburgh in a shootout, but will look to remain undefeated in regulation when they face the Penguins again on Tuesday.

Jan 19, 2021 • 17:00 ET
T.J. Oshie Washington Capitals NHL
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will play the backend of an NHL betting doubleheader on Tuesday after the Pens took the first game 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday.

The win was Pittsburgh’s first of the year after starting the season 0-2 SU. The slow start had a lot to do with the goaltending of Tristan Jarry (7.57 goals-against average). Penguins’ head coach Mike Sullivan has told reporters that Jarry will take some time to reset his mindset, giving way to Casey DeSmith, who picked up Sunday’s win.

NHL odds have the home team as a -125 favorite with the total opening at 6.5.

Here are our free picks and predictions for Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins for Tuesday, January 19 (7:00 p.m. EST).

Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

Injuries

Capitals: Michal Kempny D (Out).
Penguins: Kasperi Kapanen F (Questionable), Zach Aston-Reese F (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.

Betting Trend to Know

The first-period Over 1.5 has hit in three of the last four meetings. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Penguins.

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NHL Sharp Money and Line Movement Report

By Patrick Everson

FanDuel opened the Penguins -120 on the moneyline, stretched to -144 by this morning and is now -134 for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. The Capitals are taking 63 percent of bets and 75 percent of money. The total hasn't moved off 6.5, though there have been several price shifts, and it's currently 6.5 (Under -120). The Over is attracting 53 percent of bets and 66 percent of money.

Check out the full line movement for this game

Moneyline Pick

Pittsburgh played like a team that had a lot to lose on Sunday, out-chancing the Capitals 29-18 and producing more high-danger shots. Despite outplaying their opponent (through metrics) again, the Pens found themselves trailing twice Sunday. They've been first to score two times this year but have yet to win in regulation and have led for just 20 minutes this season.

Pittsburgh is Bottom 10 in penalty killing, which is not good as they are giving up more than four powerplays per game. Evgeni Malkin has zero points and is a -2 through the early goings of the season, as the second line that he centers have also failed to record a goal through three games. Even Sidney Crosby has yet to record an even-strength point.

On the flip side, the Capitals have gotten offensive production out of each line to start the year as nine different players have recorded a goal. The top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nick Backstrom and T.J. Oshie has a combined 11 points – four on the PP – and potted a pair in Sunday’s loss.

The Capitals could likely start rookie goalie Vitek Vanecek, who stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 2-1 win against the Sabres last Friday. Facing a goalie with zero familiarity should benefit Washington more so than Pittsburgh.

With the Capitals paying plus money again, we are going to have to take the dog as Pittsburgh has been too inconsistent to take at -120.

PREDICTION: Washington ML (+103)

First Period Over/Under Pick

Sunday’s total opened at 5.5 and closed at 6.5. The over hit halfway through the second period but both teams tightened up and failed to score a regulation goal over the final 26 minutes.

The Penguins have been victimized in the first period this year, allowing seven goals through three games in the first frame. Three of those came on the penalty kill as the Penguins are 2-for-5 on the PK in the first 20 minutes this season. Bad starts have been an early trend for Pittsburgh, who has trailed each game after one period.

The Capitals have hit the first period Over in two of their three games and are 2-0-1 SU in the first frame. No. 1 netminder Ilya Samsonov has surrendered a goal in each first period over his two starts while Vanecek has just one NHL game under his belt.

If Vanecek starts, the Pens will have a little more tape on the rookie, who gave up just a single goal to the Sabres last week. We’re leaning towards a Washington 1P ML, but are playing the first period Over 1.5 for sure. The total of 6.5 scares us a little after both teams shut things down late in the previous game after playing loose to open the contest.

PREDICTION: First period Over  1.5 (-150)

Capitals vs Penguins Betting Card

  • Washington ML (+103)
  • First period Over  1.5 (-150)
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