Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals Predictions, Picks and Preview – 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference First Round Game Five – April 21, 2017

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Washington Capitals Game 5 Preview

Where: Verizon Center, Washington

When: Friday, April 21, 2017, 10:00 PM ET

Line: Toronto Maple Leafs (+180) vs. Washington Capitals (-220); total: 5.5 – view all NHL lines

TV Broadcast: CSNB

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Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs (+1.5)

Moneyline: +180

So the Leafs wasted an opportunity to go 3-1 up on the series, losing Game 3, 5-4, but another close loss just reinforces what’s been obvious: Washington’s not getting away easy with the pesky and intrepid Leafs causing them headaches.

Toronto fell behind early in Game 4 but played with urgent panic near the end, where the Leafs have won the battle over the past two games. The Leafs have scored three third-period goals during that stretch has have outshot the Capitals, 28-6. The Leafs need that aggressiveness from start to finish and put pressure on the favored Caps, who are already burdened with lofty expectations that comes along with them being the tops seeds.

The Leafs have also negated whatever significant goalie advantage Washington has entering the series. They’ve made Braden Holtby eat plenty of goals with 14 through four games. Toronto’s attackers will have to keep going at Holtby, especially with Frederik Andersen appearing to be gassed of late. Andersen has allowed eight goals the last two games on 53 shots faced.

Tyler Bozak is perhaps the Leafs top forward on the series, as he has recorded a point in each game (two goals and two assists).

Betting on the Washington Capitals (-1.5)

Moneyline: -220

You really didn’t think the Caps had the game in the bag once they went up 4-1 at end of the first period of Game 4 but hey, they avoided another meltdown and pulled it off to tie the series up.

T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson were huge, scoring two goals each, while Alex Ovechkin scored one on the power play. The Caps don’t have a need to push the panic button. They just need to continue rocking Andersen and see Holtby flash the form that made him the Vezina Trophy winner last season and a top candidate to win it again this campaign.

Holtby’s been underwhelming this series but he could also be due for a big night, something’s the Caps certainly have full confidence on happening.

Ovechkin’s goal in Game 4 rejuvenated the Caps’ power play unit that went kaput (0-for-3) in Game 3. So far in the first round, the Caps are making a killing on the man advantage, going 4-for-12 through four games.

Writer’s Prediction

Washington (-220) wins, 3-2.

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