NHL Playoffs; Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
By Josh Blake
Is there a team with more pressure on them opening night of the NHL playoffs than the Washington Capitals? Maybe the Vancouver Canucks, but I don?t think so.
You might remember the Capitals were getting Stanley Cup rings fitted early last spring when a funny thing happened...they were unceremoniously dumped on their rears and booted to the curb by the Montreal Canadiens last April.
You can draw a direct line from that loss last spring to tonight?s game. The way the Capitals went out, getting upset as a #1 seed losing to a #8 seed, blowing a 3-1 series lead as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, has resonated throughout this franchise for almost 12 months.
They?ve spent the entire time focused on changing their game, changing their attitude, changing their approach all meant to make them more playoff ready and give them the chance to go deep this year.
It all starts tonight for them. They are a #1 seed again, facing a #8 who they should dispatch in the New York Rangers. This Ranger team barely snuck into the playoffs.
The Capitals are a -200 favorite to win the series at sportsbook Sportsbetting.com. Bettors making their NHL picks for the playoff series have been somewhat split on this series, with decent underdog action coming in at the sportsbooks. As of Wednesday afternoon, The Rangers are getting 37% of the money as an underdog to win this series. The line moved from -220 on Washington down to -200.
Bettors are not so trusting that the Capitals have this figured out.
I don?t believe the same factors are in place that will create another situation in which the Caps will be dumped in the opening round as #1 seed. Namely, the adjustments they?ve made, the fact it happened to them last year and the experience that brings, plus the different opponent.
It?s steep juice, but I actually think there is value in a small play on the Capitals to win the series at -200.
If you?re interested in a free NHL Playoff contest, check this one out. You can win $100 just by picking the winners of each first round series. NHL Playoff Contest
Good luck.
By Josh Blake
Is there a team with more pressure on them opening night of the NHL playoffs than the Washington Capitals? Maybe the Vancouver Canucks, but I don?t think so.
You might remember the Capitals were getting Stanley Cup rings fitted early last spring when a funny thing happened...they were unceremoniously dumped on their rears and booted to the curb by the Montreal Canadiens last April.
You can draw a direct line from that loss last spring to tonight?s game. The way the Capitals went out, getting upset as a #1 seed losing to a #8 seed, blowing a 3-1 series lead as the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, has resonated throughout this franchise for almost 12 months.
They?ve spent the entire time focused on changing their game, changing their attitude, changing their approach all meant to make them more playoff ready and give them the chance to go deep this year.
It all starts tonight for them. They are a #1 seed again, facing a #8 who they should dispatch in the New York Rangers. This Ranger team barely snuck into the playoffs.
The Capitals are a -200 favorite to win the series at sportsbook Sportsbetting.com. Bettors making their NHL picks for the playoff series have been somewhat split on this series, with decent underdog action coming in at the sportsbooks. As of Wednesday afternoon, The Rangers are getting 37% of the money as an underdog to win this series. The line moved from -220 on Washington down to -200.
Bettors are not so trusting that the Capitals have this figured out.
I don?t believe the same factors are in place that will create another situation in which the Caps will be dumped in the opening round as #1 seed. Namely, the adjustments they?ve made, the fact it happened to them last year and the experience that brings, plus the different opponent.
It?s steep juice, but I actually think there is value in a small play on the Capitals to win the series at -200.
If you?re interested in a free NHL Playoff contest, check this one out. You can win $100 just by picking the winners of each first round series. NHL Playoff Contest
Good luck.
