Wednesday (YTD: 24-6 +18.49u)

Washington (-135) 1u

I haven't played many sides yet this year, but this is one I feel quite confident with. Washington comes in having picked it up considerably compared to earlier in the season (let's just forget the mini 2 game road trip). Washington is a much better team at home then on the road and I wouldn't even think about backing them if they were on the road. Washington ranks #9 overall averaging 2.93 goals per game. At home we see quite a positive increase, where they rank #7 overall averaging 3.25 goals per game. Their Power Play is above average as expected. Washington ranks #7 overall in PP% at 19.3% and #14 scoring 26 PP goals up to this point. At home is where their PP is lethal where they rank #1 overall hitting at a 24.6% clip and #3 scoring 17 PP goals. Washington also imporves all defensive statistics when playing in their own building. They rank #8 overall allowing an average of 2.95 goals per game. At home we see a durastic increase where they rank #18 allowing an average of 2.50 goals per game. Their Penalty Kill is lights out as well ranking #19 overall in PK% at 82.1% and #18 allowing 25 PP goals against thus far. At home we see another substantial improvement where they rank #2 overall in PK% at a whopping 90.2% and #28 allowing only 6 PP goals against all season.

Pittsburgh has been struggling miserably lately, and with the injuries I really don't see things changing. Pittsburgh is ranked #8 overall scoring an average of 2.95 goals per game. They stay fairly consistent on the road where they rank #7 averaging 2.86 goals per game. It comes to no surprised that Pittsburgh has a great Power Play. They rank #10 overall in PK% at 18.9% and #6 overall having scored 31 PP goals so far this season. On the road we actually see a slight improvement where they rank #9 in PP% at 20.5% and #3 overall scoring 16 PP goals. Pittsburgh's defense has played slightly worse on the road than at home. They rank #21 overall allowing an av erage of 2.66 goals per game. On the road they find themselves #18 allowing an average of 2.76 goals per game. Their Penalty Kill is solid as usual ranking #4 overall in PK% at 86.8% and #26 allowing 19 PP goals against. On the road things are slightly worse. We find Pittsburgh ranked #10 in PK% at 84.9% and #16 in PP goals against allowing 13 so far. Of course, we could very well assume that they are worse than the stats say right now due to the multiple injuries they have right now.

Pittsburgh comes into this match up in a tough spot. They are completely depleted by injuries to many key players (Crosby, Staal, Neal, Letang, Bortuzzo). They just lost 5 straight games, the most recent being 3 straight at home where they were outscored 11-3. Pittsburgh's offense has completely hit a wall with these injuries, they have only scored 6 goals in their last 5 games. At this point, it seems as if the only player with any sort of offensive contribution for Pittsburgh is Evgeni Malkin. Washington on the other hand has some what found their mojo, and they have been hot at home winning their last 4 home games. Vokoun has been solid at home this season where he sports a 11-3 record, 2.18 GAA, and .919 SV%.

Still have to look over the rest of the later game, might have a play. As always, Good luck everyone.