Penguins vs Capitals NHL Picks: Bet Pittsburgh on Puck Line for Nov. 8

The Washington Capitals lead all Eastern Conference teams with seven home wins. Can the Capitals make it eight when the rival Pittsburgh Penguins come to Capital One Arena on Friday? The NHL betting odds favor the Capitals in the first meeting of the season between the division rivals.

The road team has won each of the last four meetings and eight of the last games between the Penguins and the Capitals. With the Capitals at -170 to win Friday’s showdown according to the BetUS sportsbook, this ends a streak of five straight games with the Penguins being favored against the Capitals. Pittsburgh has +146 odds to pull off the upset.

The last four times the Penguins played in Washington, the game landed under the total.

When looking at the NHL futures odds, Washington has seen its odds of winning the Stanley Cup move from +6500 to +4000 since the start of the season. Pittsburgh’s championship odds have moved from +4000 to +8000.

Penguins vs Capitals Game Information

• Matchup: Penguins (5-7-2) at Capitals (9-3)
• Date/Time: Friday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
• Penguins vs Capitals Live Stream: NHL.com

3 NHL Picks for Penguins vs Capitals

1. Ovechkin, Crosby Top Prop Pick Options

Hockey fans in Pittsburgh and Washington should count their blessings as they have been able to watch so many matchups featuring Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin since they both made their NHL debuts in the 2005-06 season.

Ovechkin has scored in five straight games to give him eight goals and eight assists in the first 12 games. He had just two goals in the first 12 games a season ago.

Alex Ovechkin finds the back of the net in the screaming eagle uniforms! 😍

Career Goal No. 861! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/sRxIKutQwG

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 7, 2024

After having five goals and three assists in his previous four games, Crosby failed to record a point in a 5-1 loss to Carolina on Thursday. Ovechkin and Crosby will be popular Penguins vs Capitals player prop options.

Bet on Alexander Ovechkin to Score a Goal (+110)

2. Take the Penguins As The Road Favorite

It will be strength against strength. The Capitals are 6-2 against the NHL puck line at home this season while the Penguins have covered in five of their first eight road games. Winning on the road has been a struggle for Pittsburgh, but the Penguins have still found ways to deliver as the road underdogs.

Washington is 4-0 outright as a home favorite this season. The Penguins have covered in four of their eight games as a road underdog.

GAMEDAY!

The Caps and Penguins face off tonight at 7:30 PM on @ESPNPlus and @hulu #CapsPens preview: https://t.co/gHzujRYsVQ pic.twitter.com/vZ6MQK2sgd

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 8, 2024

When looking at Penguins vs Capitals trends, there was a stretch when three of four games between Pittsburgh and Washington were decided by one goal. However, in the two more recent matchups it has been a different story with Washington winning 6-0 and Pittsburgh rebounding with a 4-1 win. We are expecting this to be a more competitive game.

It might be a little risky to take the Penguins to win outright, but consider Pittsburgh to cover as a 1½-goal underdog even if the Penguins are 2-6-2 in the last 10 games and struggling to stay out of last place in the Metropolitan Division.

Bet Penguins (+1½) To Cover (-170)

3. Go With Penguins vs Capitals to Land Under 6.5

It is hard to believe that a team with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson has scored three goals or less in seven consecutive games, but that is the case.

Washington has allowed a total of four goals in its last two home contests. There was a stretch when four straight Pittsburgh vs Washington games finished over the total but go with this one to land under.

Bet the Penguins vs Capitals Game to Land Under 6.5 (-110)

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