Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Game 4 Preview
Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
When: Wednesday, April 19, 2017, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Washington Capitals (-160) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (+140); total: 5.5 – view all NHL lines
TV Broadcast: NBCSN
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Betting on the Washington Capitals (-1.5)
There’s a big obstruction in the Capitals’ collective throats and they’re in danger of another playoffs chokejob. That obstruction is Toronto right now, which took a 2-1 series lead after beating Washington 4-3 in overtime in Game 3.
Game 3 was a microcosm of the Capitals’ recent playoffs history as the team took an early 2-0 lead before the meltdown. The team has to address their lack of activity down the stretch. They’re getting outworked when it matters the most with Toronto outshooting them in overtime of Game 3 and in the third period of Game 4. The Caps also has to find their deadly form on the power play.
The Capitals went kaput on the PP in Game 3, going 0-for-3 on the man advantage. The Caps’ special units, in general, remains lethal, especially when considering that they were 3-for-8 on the power play the first two games of the series.
The Caps have no reason to panic. They have the better collection of talent than the Leafs. They’re still favored to win Game 4 and the series for that matter. Playing Alex Ovechkin more than the 15 minutes he was seen on the ice in Game 4 could work wonders for the team. Ovechkin has two goals on the series so far.
Betting on the Toronto Maple Leafs (+1.5)
Toronto head coach Mike Babcock has prepared his young Leafs well for the postseason. These Leafs aren’t going away as easy as what most people thought they would against the mighty Washington squad and they’ll be eyeing to put the Caps in a 3-1 series hole later tonight.
The Leafs are showing no signs of nerves and they’re not paying much respect to Washington goalie Braden Holtby, who is being inundated by Toronto’s fearless attacks. In fact, eight different players have scored for the Leafs thus far on the series.
The Leafs had success on defense too in Game 4, as they were able to slow down the Caps despite giving up two first-period goals. After the Caps took 44 and 50 shots in Games 1 and 2, respectively, they were able to get off only 26 shots in Game 4. If the Leafs could limit the Caps’ opportunities on offense again, that would be big for goalie Frederik Andersen, who’s been nothing but a workhorse in this series. Andersen currently sports a 2.47 GAA and .925 SV% in the first round.
Writer’s Prediction
Washington (-160) wins, 4-2.
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