2012 NHL Playoffs Betting Odds – April 14: Capitals vs. Bruins
Matt Skinner here with your 2012 NHL Playoffs betting odds for April 14, specifically for the Capitals vs. Bruins game. As always you can find all the latest Hockey betting at Belmont.com, offering tons of FREE CASH when you join today plus buddy referral cash.
Game 1 of the Washington/Boston series in the NHL playoffs was a stellar defensive matchup between two teams that have Stanley Cup desires. Will Game 2 follow suit?
Belmont line and total: Boston -180 and 5
Washington’s young goalie Braden Holtby looked great for the entire 60 minutes of regulation as the Bruins peppered him with 30 shots, clogged up his crease, and tried to bump him every chance they got to rattle him. The kid was unfazed for the most part (did take a roughing penalty retaliating) as he kept his team in a game they really had no reason being in. Washington was outshot 30-17 for the game as the shots were something like 24-7 mid-way through the 3rd. Washington may be more committed to defense these days but with the likes of Backstrom, Ovechkin and Semin up front, they really have to start pushing the play and being aggressive with the puck if they want to move on to round two.
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Game 1 was the first time in the five meetings between these two this season that they didn’t combine for at least 5 goals and it had been Washington doing most of the scoring previously. They know they can beat Thomas, but letting him basically take naps back there is no way to try and “surprise” him with a shot. Washington will be ultra-aggressive in this game as they go for the split and will want to help their young stud Holtby out. Even after he let in a long shot from the blueline in OT, every Caps player went up to him and consoled him as they all knew his effort was phenomenal. They let him down and they will not want to do that again.
Looking at the total, Washington is 7-2 O/U in their last 9 games after scoring 2 goals or fewer and they are 4-1-1 O/U in their last six playoff games as an underdog. Boston is 23-6 O/U after scoring 2 or less and they are 20-7 O/U in their last 27 when favored between -150 and -200. You know their gameplan won’t change as they will continue to direct pucks towards the net, knowing Holtby can shut them down forever.
Expect this game to see quite a few more goals than Game 1 as they get back to their regular season meetings of combining for 5 or more.
- Matt Skinner, Gambling911.com
