Washington @ COLUMBUS
COLUMBUS -½ +122 over Washington

BEST LINES:  Pinnacle -½ +122 BET365 -½ +120 SportsInteraction -½ +120 5DIMES -½ +120

Game 3 - posted at 10:15 AM EST.

7:35 PM EST. Regulation only. Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are a great team in October, November, December, January, February, March and early April but in the Ovechkin era, they’re perhaps the worst playoff team in the history of this great league. Actually, we should rephrase that and suggest that they’ve had outstanding regular season teams in the past with the exception of this year where the results were great but the performances were not, which we outlined in our “series wager” in this matchup. We also had the Jackets in Games 1 and 2 to win but we’re not done yet, as the Caps are still getting too much respect. If Washington was -160 in Games 1 & 2 back in D.C, then the Jackets should be -200 in their barn with a 2-0 series lead.

So, here’s what we know for sure. Washington had 13 (!) power-play opportunities in the first two games and scored five PP goals combined, yet it is still down 2-0. Of the seven goals that the Caps have scored in this series, five have come via the PP. We’ve been suggesting all year that there is only one way the Caps can win and that’s by scoring PP goals, thus the blueprint to beat this soft bunch is not a difficult one. Just stay the f**k out of the box and this intruder has very little chance to win. The next thing we know for sure is that Barry Trotz set the Caps up to lose this series right off the bat by using his backup goalie instead of the playoff experienced Braden Holtby. That didn’t last long but the hole created will likely cost Trotz his job.

As the series heads back to Nationwide, the fragile Capitals are in big time trouble. Andre Burakovsky will not be in the lineup for the Capitals tonight, as he suffered a hand injury on Sunday and did not make the trip to Columbus. Washington cannot compensate for injuries to key players with a defense that can be considered a complete wasteland. The Blue Jackets have played resilient hockey these last two games, coming from two goals down in each of them. The team has taken penalties, put themselves behind the eight ball, and yet they have managed to overcome all adversity to take a 2-0 lead in their series. Indeed, the jackets were fortunate to win last game but again, when you spend that much time in the box, you are going to be under siege and that’s precisely what occurred. Sergei Bobrovsky was spectacular but John Tortorella gave Bob a chance to thrive while Trotz did not do the same with his Vezina Trophy winning goaltender.

If you watched Colorado return home to their fans last night, you truly experienced what “home ice” advantage is. The Avs came out flying and before they knew what happened, Nashville was down four goals. That same “home ice” edge will be on full display here, as the Jackets have never won a playoff series and have never come home with a series lead either. This will be without question the loudest and most electric arena in the NHL tonight and the Jackets are going to have to take 10 minors to lose to this weak visitor. That’s not happening and neither is a Capitals comeback.

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Our Pick

COLUMBUS -½ +122 (Risking 2 units - To Win: 2.44)

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New Jersey +127 over Toronto
Vegas +124 over Nashville