Have they turned the corner and become the regular season warriors we expect from north of the border? Well for Vancouver to get to prove that they have recovered from past playoff failures, they must first get to the post season. This has not been a problem for them so far as they have started out well at 16-7-1. Tonight they get to travel to the East to play a franchise they have dominated in the past. So let them lace up in the skates for a 7PM start at the Verizon Center as the Washington Capitals (10-9-4) await the Canucks tonight.
Power Play Prowess
Five consecutive games with a power play goal have allowed Vancouver to continue to surge. This is key because the difference between their goals for and against is not that great. Nick Bonino has shot aplenty and missed a lot. Miller and Lack have been sharing the goaltending duties and both are above servicable in that department. A key here is that the Capitals have not been good against Pacific teams and especially Vancouver.
Pedestrian in the Pack
Five hundred seems to be the fate of the Washington Capitols in the short term and so far all this season. A key to any modicum of success is to get their struggling offense to three goals. They have won five straight when that happens. Ovechkin’s twelve goals is average as well. Not a bad performance but underwhelming considering all his talent. The rest of the team is pretty vanilla. At least they are well rested since the 29th when the Maple Leafs took them to the wood shed 6-2.
Even wagering slight underdogs which the Canucks are is the path to profit in the NHL. This is the better team and only because they are a long way from home is why they are not favored. Their power play is humming and Washington’s attempt at limiting their attempts tonight will not work. Vancouver will coast in this one. Play the underdog and skip to the bank with our NHL Free Pick of the Day. We will see you later this week to chat about this and look at our long term project in the San Jose Sharks.
