Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/13/2024

Game Time: 5:30 pm ET, Saturday, April 13, 2024

Venue:  Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Lightning -148, Capitals +124; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Lightning -148, Capitals +124; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Lightning -148, Capitals +124; Over/Under:  6 goals

Tampa Bay Lightning:  44-27-8 (4th place, Atlantic Division)

Washington Capitals:  37-31-11 (5th place, Metropolitan Division)

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Tampa Bay Lightning:  6-2-2 last 10

Washington Capitals:  3-5-2 last 10

The Lightning are entering this game with 96 points, a 44-27-8 record overall, and they are 20-17-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Ottawa Senators in their last game, losing that one at home 3-2 in a shootout. Brayden Point and Conor Sheary each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Nikita Kucherov led the team in assists with 2 while Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and Steven Stamkos each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Matt Tomkins was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 27 shots with 25 saves and a .926 save percentage. Their offense has scored 281 goals this season averaging 3.6 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 256 goals against them allowing 3.2 goals per game.

The Capitals are entering this game with 85 points, a 37-31-11 record overall, and they are 20-12-7 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Buffalo Sabres in their last game, losing that one on the road 4-2. Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson each scored 1 goal for them in that game. John Carlson led the team in assists with 2 while Connor McMichael, Alexander Ovechkin, and Max Pacioretty each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Charlie Lindgren was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 16 shots with 13 saves and a .812 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 212 goals this season averaging 2.7 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 254 goals against them allowing 3.2 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Capitals listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Capitals have looked good in their games this season with their 37-31-11 record overall, but that record only has them in 5th place of their division in the East and fighting for the last Wild Card spot. They also have a chance to finish 3rd in the division so they have 2 ways of getting to the playoffs. They have also looked a lot better on home ice this year with their 20-12-7 home record. The Capitals have looked really bad for most of the season but lately they have been surging up the standings to put themselves in this position to make the playoffs. They have been cooling off over the last week since they are only 3-5-2 in their last 10 games, but they need to win this game a lot more and have played their best on home ice this season. The Lightning have looked a lot better lately with their 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games, but they are coming off a loss in their last one and they don't need to win this game as much as they have already locked into a Wild Card spot and can't really move up or down. The Capitals are going to have more motivation in this game since every game is a must win from now until the end of the season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Capitals to win this game. 

Lightning Capitals Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Saturday, April 13, 2024 (5:30 pm ET start time) is Capitals 3 Lightning 2.

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Tampa Bay Lightning: 30-19 (+8.2 units) on the moneyline revenging a loss where the opponent scored 5 or more goals. 30-14 (+13 units) on the moneyline after a close loss by 1 goal in their previous game. 15-7 UNDER off a close home loss by 1 goal. 

Washington Capitals: 25-39 (-16.2 units) on the moneyline off a road loss. 36-40 (-7.7 units) on the moneyline after a loss by 2 goals or more in their previous game. 22-16 UNDER after playing a road game. 

Tampa Bay Lightning:  A. Duclair (LW) Ques Sat - Illness. H. Fleury (D) Ques Sat - Undisclosed. J. Johansson (G) Out indefinitely - Lower Body. M. Sergachev (D) Early May - Leg. B. Seabrook (D) out for season - Shoulder. L. Brown (C) Out indefinitely - Undisclosed.

Washington Capitals:  R. Sandin (D) Ques Sat - Upper Body. E. Bear (D) Out indefinitely - Personal. N. Backstrom (C) out for season - Hip.

“When you look in the standings, (we) can’t go down and probably not going up, either. So, we’re kind of in our slot. This is all about preparation of getting our game in order, our team in order, and our mindset in order.” - Jon Cooper after his team’s loss against the Senators in their game on Thursday.

“Our group won’t be deterred. We will continue to play and do the things that we’ve done since we’ve been on the edge of elimination it feels like for two months.” - Spencer Carbery after his team’s loss against the Sabres in their game on Thursday.

LW Duclair, Anthony

C Point, Brayden

RW Kucherov, Nikita

LD Hedman, Victor

RD Raddysh, Darren

G Vasilevskiy, Andrei

LW Ovechkin, Alex

C McMichael, Connor

RW Oshie, T.J.

LD Fehérváry, Martin

RD Carlson, John

G Lindgren, Charlie

Points: N. Kucherov (141)

Goals: B. Point (45)

Assists: N. Kucherov (98)

GAA: A. Vasilevskiy (2.85)

Points: D. Strome (65)

Goals: A. Ovechkin (30)

Assists: J. Carlson (42)

GAA: C. Lindgren (2.78)

Coaches:

Tampa Bay Lightning: Jon Cooper (12th season)

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (1st season)