Panthers Have Opportunity to Close Series Out
It was starting to look grim for the Florida Panthers halfway through Game 5. The Washington Capitals stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the second period.
It was then that Florida just started pouring it on. They scored five unanswered goals in the second half of the game and picked up a pivotal 5-3 victory.
The win gives them a 3-2 series lead with the chance to shut down the Capitals for good in Game 6. Will they be able to do just that? Or, will the Capitals force a Game 7?
Let’s dive into this NHL game betting preview and figure out the best option for those who betonline.
Let’s check the latest NHL lines, stats, injury reports, and NHL odds for Panthers vs Capitals. We’ve plenty of NHL picks and predictions.
Never Count the Panthers Out
This was yet another incredible late-game performance by the Panthers. It took an all-around team effort to get the job done but in the end, it was worth it.
Carter Verhaeghe, in particular, deserves to get a ton of credit. He set a postseason record in franchise history by picking up five points throughout the night.
On top of this offense flourishing down the stretch, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky picked it up and stopped 28 shots. He recovered after a shaky start.
Losing this game at home would have thrown them into a difficult situation. Coming from behind again has to give them all the confidence in the world moving forward.
Capitals Fell Apart once Again
Losing a playoff game in front of your own fans after winning with just a few minutes left in regulation isn’t ever a good look. Washington was then able to top that misfortune by choking away a 3-0 lead and allowing five straight goals.
These last couple of games have been brutal for them and some might wonder if they can get off the mat and recover – at least mentally. Motivation and morale could be at an all-time low in this Capitals locker room.
Despite the amount of experience they have on their roster, this has been a horrible two-game stretch for them. Plus, they were 20-1-0 in games when they were up by at least three goals.
Ironically, the only team that beat them during that stretch was the Panthers themselves. This was the second time that they were able to do so.
Panthers vs Capitals Head-to-Head
Florida has beaten Washington in five out of their eight matchups over the course of the season. Washington has had opportunities to do better than what the record here shows.
Panthers vs Capitals Game Information
- Game: Panthers (58-18-6) vs Capitals (44-26-12)
- Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
- Day/Time: Friday, May 13th, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Panthers vs Capitals Live Stream: NHL.TV
Panthers vs Capitals Betting Lines
Panthers vs Capitals Prediction
Looking at which team will win Game 6 and cover in the sportsbook is tough, however, Florida has all of the momentum in the series after these last two outings and should be coming in with the thought of ending this series once and for all.
Washington looked like their last heartbreaking loss didn’t affect them when starting 3-0, but the end of this game showed that they were not able to withstand a comeback run.
Florida should be primed to take down Washington for good in Game 6. Take them with your NHL picks in this spot as they’ll move on to the second round.
Pick: Florida Panthers -165
