Caps at Kings Analysis

By Bart Lopez

Ovechkin has looked pretty good lately. Check out AccuScore's Capitals forecasts with an ALL-ACCESS membership. In addition to hockey forecasts, picks, and information on every NHL game, you will also get game previews and analysis for every college basketball, college football, soccer, and NFL game.

There are only two games tonight, one of which is a nice matchup of offense versus defense. I’ve decided to weigh in on this game, and have made it available to everyone. Tomorrow I’ll come out with more picks that will be available only to members.

Tonight the Los Angeles Kings host the Washington Capitals. The Kings are on game five of a six game home stand, and have split the first four games, going 2-2. The story for Los Angeles has been goal scoring. Goalie Jonathan Quick is having a good season with an 18-11-6 record and a league best six shutouts. He was would be doing even better if his team could score some goals. The Kings are dead last in goals per game at just 2.02. In the last three games Los Angeles has recorded just two goals, which has lost them two out of the three despite Quick and the defense surrendering just four in the same stretch. Washington, on the other hand, is ranked ninth in goals per game at 2.95 and was on a four game winning streak before falling to San Jose two nights ago 5-2. Alexander Ovechkin has been on a roll, collecting eight points in four games before putting up zero against the Sharks. The Capitals were missing center Nicklas Backstrom against San Jose, who will be back tonight, which should help Ovechkin and the Caps’ offense.

The money line indicates Los Angeles is the favorite at -130. However, AccuScore gives Washington the edge with an AccuScore winning percentage of 53.7. This is a tough pick as I’m not a fan of betting against Quick at home, but the Kings’ offense has lost them plenty of games. With that in mind, I still think Washington will take the game (my prediction is 3-2), because of a better offense and a solid game from Tomas Vokoun. He has been solid in four of the last five games, allowing just five goals in the four victories.

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