The Washington Capitals pulled off the most important upset of the primary two days of the NHL postseason, defeating the Florida Panthers, 4-2, as +200 underdogs in Recreation 1.
The victory was well-earned for the Capitals, who generated 4.11 anticipated objectives and conceded solely 2.21 in any respect strengths. Florida stays a sturdy -175 favourite to win the sequence, however a stumble in Recreation 2 on Thursday would see that quantity shorten drastically.
The Capitals are top-of-the-line street groups within the NHL and their type of play interprets nicely in a matchup with the Panthers, who really feel most comfy in back-and-forth contests. Washington is adept at gumming up the impartial zone, which makes Florida’s most popular up-tempo, transition type a lot tougher to drag off. A staff that may tighten issues up in opposition to the Panthers takes away their largest power.
Alex Ovechkin skates for the puck in opposition to the Florida Panthers.NHLI through Getty Photos
Typically within the NHL playoffs, bookmakers will regulate numbers primarily based on a “must-win” narrative. It’s laborious to fathom the Presidents’ Trophy winners taking place 0-2 within the first spherical, so it’s fairly attainable that the Capitals will shut at a better value than they did for Recreation 1.
Washington has already confirmed that it might dangle with the Panthers, so don’t be afraid to again the Capitals at an enormous quantity as soon as once more on Thursday evening.
The play: Capitals +200.