PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Stanley Cup Total of the Year
(NHL) Washington vs. Vegas,
05/28/2018 4:00 PM, Score: 4 - 6
Total: 5.50 | -121.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | -121.00 Under
Result: Win
It's not often teams receive such a long break before beginning the Stanley Cup Finals. But that's certainly the case for the Golden Knights, who haven't played in eight days. The Capitals last played this past Wednesday.
Washington happens to be 10-1-1 to the Over when playing on three or more days rest.
This extended layoff ensures fresh legs. That's a huge plus for the offense. Both teams are well above average in scoring. The Golden Knights ranked fifth in goals at 3.3 per game. The Capitals rated ninth at 3.1. They have the league's top goal scorer in Alex Ovechkin, who scored 49 goals. The Capitals also have Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is the playoff leader with 24 postseason points. Tom Wilson is back from suspension joining those two to give the Capitals a very dangerous first line that should play a lot due to the extra rest.
The Capitals scored three, four and four goals during the first road game in each of their past three playoff series leading up to these finals. Washington is averaging four goals per game during its past four away matchups.
Las Vegas is averaging four goals a game during its first home contest in each of its three playoff series. The Golden Knights have scored three or more goals in eight of their last 11 games.
Yet the linesmaker didn't assign a total of 6 on this game because of the hot goalies. Braden Holtby is riding a scoreless streak of 159 minuts, 27 seconds. Marc-Andre Fleury has been absolutely brilliant.
The long layoff, though, isn't going to help these goaltenders. Fleury had his worst game of the playoffs in Game 1 of the Golden Knights' last series against Winnipeg surrendering four goals, posting an 84.6 save percentage. The Golden Knights had been idle for six days leading into that game.
Holtby entered this season without a strong reputation of being a great road goalie especially in the playoffs. The Golden Knights can't match the Capitals' superstars, but they go four lines deep and their speedy forwards and creative playmaking can cause problems for goalies. I think that will be the case here.
Washington happens to be 10-1-1 to the Over when playing on three or more days rest.
This extended layoff ensures fresh legs. That's a huge plus for the offense. Both teams are well above average in scoring. The Golden Knights ranked fifth in goals at 3.3 per game. The Capitals rated ninth at 3.1. They have the league's top goal scorer in Alex Ovechkin, who scored 49 goals. The Capitals also have Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is the playoff leader with 24 postseason points. Tom Wilson is back from suspension joining those two to give the Capitals a very dangerous first line that should play a lot due to the extra rest.
The Capitals scored three, four and four goals during the first road game in each of their past three playoff series leading up to these finals. Washington is averaging four goals per game during its past four away matchups.
Las Vegas is averaging four goals a game during its first home contest in each of its three playoff series. The Golden Knights have scored three or more goals in eight of their last 11 games.
Yet the linesmaker didn't assign a total of 6 on this game because of the hot goalies. Braden Holtby is riding a scoreless streak of 159 minuts, 27 seconds. Marc-Andre Fleury has been absolutely brilliant.
The long layoff, though, isn't going to help these goaltenders. Fleury had his worst game of the playoffs in Game 1 of the Golden Knights' last series against Winnipeg surrendering four goals, posting an 84.6 save percentage. The Golden Knights had been idle for six days leading into that game.
Holtby entered this season without a strong reputation of being a great road goalie especially in the playoffs. The Golden Knights can't match the Capitals' superstars, but they go four lines deep and their speedy forwards and creative playmaking can cause problems for goalies. I think that will be the case here.
