Fri 15 Nov, 2013, 7:30 PM (EST)
Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals - 11/15/13
By: Kyle
Washington Capitals (10-8-1) at Detroit Red Wings (9-5-5)
Friday November 15, 2013, 7:30 PM (EST)
The Line: Detroit Red Wings -142 / Washington Capitals +129 --- Over/Under: 5.5
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The Washington Capitals will look to send the Red Wings to yet another home loss as the teams meet up in Detroit on Friday night.
The Capitals have started to turn their season around with the help of a 6-3-1 stretch in their last 10 games and now have a chance to leapfrog the Penguins for top spot in the Metro division. Washington has always been considered a one horse team as skeptics always point out that Alex Ovechkin is the only offensive threat wearing red, white, and blue but this season he has received a ton of support. Nick Backstrom is once again having a very strong season and the likes of Joel Ward have stepped up big time in key situations with Ovie out of the lineup to help secure victories for the Caps. Braden Holtby is also starting to play better as he auditions for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team and earning statement victories like this one would go a long way in doing so especially considering Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock is also the bench boss for the Team Canada.
The Red Wings have been uncharacteristically disappointing on home ice this season as they have a 3-2-5 mark at the Joe and despite earning points in 8 of 12 games in Detroit it is those other points left on the ice that are stinging Red Wings fans right now. Detroit is always considered a favourite to win the Stanley Cup and now that they're in the Eastern Conference and playing with a more respectable schedule in terms of competition and travel the Wings were even more so considered big favourites. Detroit also added two veterans in the offseason in Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss to contribute both on and off the ice but so far we have seen mixed results from the newest Wings despite sitting with a 9-5-5 mark on the year. Jimmy Howard will get the call in goal for the Wings as he faces off against Holtby in what should be an entertaining contest. While logic suggests that Detroit will snap their streak I actually like the Caps here as they have Saturday off while the Wings travel to New York to face the Islanders. I think the Caps offense can keep the relatively inexperienced Red Wings defense guessing and I think that makes the difference.
Washington Capitals +130
M/L spread total
5.5o -238 5.5u +185
5.5o +100 5.5u -120
5.5o -135 5.5u -105
6o -105 6u -115
6o -125 6u +105