by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Jan 10, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Where to watch: NBCSWA, NESN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Capitals -115, Bruins -105
BetMGM: Capitals -120, Bruins -100
Caesars: Capitals -120, Bruins -100
Season record
Bruins: 18-11-2, 38 points (4th place, Atlantic)
Capitals: 20-7-9, 49 points (3rd place, Metropolitan)
Capitals: 20-7-9, 49 points (3rd place, Metropolitan)
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Bruins - Capitals preview and analysis
Recent form
Bruins: won four of five; won 5-2 at Lightning on Saturday
Capitals: lost three straight; lost 3-2 (SO) at Wild on Saturday
The Boston Bruins have looked the part since coming back from their COVID postponements, and they’ll look to continue that run when they face the Washington Capitals in DC on Monday.
The Boston Bruins have looked the part since coming back from their COVID postponements, and they’ll look to continue that run when they face the Washington Capitals in DC on Monday.
Since returning from a six-game postponement due to an outbreak of their own and with happenings for other teams, the Bruins have won four of five capped off by a 5-2 win Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning (who are now back to full strength, mind you).
The Perfection Line returned to form in the home of the two-time Stanley Cup champs. David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand had two goals each, and Patrice Bergeron also added an assist to pace a Bruins offense that has been dying for this consistency.
“There was a lot to like,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think our puck battles ... I think a lot of our goals were generated winning pucks in the wall. We played a hard to play against type of style tonight.”
The Bruins were in freefall in the midst of their COVID outbreak. Bergeron and Marchand were in COVID protocol, among many other names, but have since come back and are reminding folks why the Bruins will forever be a tough competitor in the East.
Right now, the Bruins are looking up at Capitals in the Eastern Conference standings, but the Caps have been in a slide as of late losing three of four. Washington is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on the road, where the Capitals gave up a late tying goal and eventually lost in a shootout.
Evgeny Kuznetsov and Connor McMichael scored for Washington, but the night belonged to young goalie Zach Fucale in the loss. Fucale made 21 saves and set an NHL record, at 138 minutes, 7 seconds for the longest shutout streak to open an NHL career. The goal that ended the streak was actually Mats Zuccarello’s game-tying goal; the first goal Minnesota scored was with Fucale on the bench due to a delayed penalty and an empty net.
“I thought we played well tonight,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. “It’s disappointing on the results. You talk about the first goal and then they tie it up at the end and win in a shootout. So, it leaves you with a really lousy taste in your mouth. But I thought the guys put up a pretty good effort.”
Despite on this slide, you can never count the Capitals out for as long as Alex Ovechkin is available. His 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) has him in the Hart Trophy category near the mid-way part of the season. He leads the Capitals in both categories by a country mile.
Prediction
With the likelihood of Ilya Samsonov getting back in goal, he likely wants to avenge himself for giving up five against the St. Louis Blues the other day. On home ice, the Capitals are due for getting back in the win column even though the Bruins are coming off an impressive road win given their situation. I like Washington in this situation. Capitals win 4-2
Betting trends
The Bruins are 10-4 ATS this season when playing their third game in five days.
The Capitals are 19-4 ATS the past three seasons when playing a third game in four nights.
The Capitals are 10-5 ATS this season off a loss.
Projected lines
Bruins:
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Craig Smith
Taylor Hall -- Erik Haula -- David Pastrnak
Nick Foligno -- Charlie Coyle -- Oskar Steen
Anton Blidh -- Trent Frederic -- Curtis Lazar
Matt Grzelcyk -- Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly -- Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton
Jeremy Swayman
Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- Craig Smith
Taylor Hall -- Erik Haula -- David Pastrnak
Nick Foligno -- Charlie Coyle -- Oskar Steen
Anton Blidh -- Trent Frederic -- Curtis Lazar
Matt Grzelcyk -- Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly -- Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort -- Connor Clifton
Jeremy Swayman
Capitals:
Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Garnet Hathaway
Conor Sheary -- Lars Eller -- Tom Wilson
Carl Hagelin -- Nic Dowd -- Brett Leason
Daniel Sprong -- Michael Sgarbossa -- Aliaksei Protas
Martin Fehervary -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Trevor van Riemsdyk -- Justin Schultz
Ilya Samsonov
Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Garnet Hathaway
Conor Sheary -- Lars Eller -- Tom Wilson
Carl Hagelin -- Nic Dowd -- Brett Leason
Daniel Sprong -- Michael Sgarbossa -- Aliaksei Protas
Martin Fehervary -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Trevor van Riemsdyk -- Justin Schultz
Ilya Samsonov
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
