Get to the Point
by: Jimmy Harris
The Washington Capitals get their playoff run started on Friday night with what should be their first win over the Philadelphia Flyers. That would translate to a playoff moneyline victory, just like I got Wednesday with the Rangers, Avalanche and Flames on the road. It was a tidy little payday with all road dogs winning.
Before you all start calling me a bandwagon jumper for getting behind Alexander Ovechkin and the Caps, I’ve actually been a Washington fan since the days of Al Iafrate, Dale Hunter and Don Beaupre.
I’d love to see Washington eventually face Pittsburgh so the Caps can get some revenge for all the beatdowns Mario Lemieux and the Pens laid on us in the 90’s.
I usually don’t wager on the teams I follow because I either end up thinking my team is unbeatable and make a bad bet, or I go the other way and think they suck beyond belief and bet against them at the wrong time. This time I’m feeling pretty good about my Caps ripping the Flyers and the moneyline offers good value at BetUS.com at -150. Flyers backers can get their team at +130.
During the regular season Washington and Philly faced off four times and split the season series 2-2. Ovechkin wasn’t great versus the Flyers with only three goals and two assists in those four games, but this is the playoffs when stars step up and there’s no bigger star than Ovechkin right now.
The Flyers can try to go after the Russian sniper as much as they like, but that will just give the Caps plenty of power-play opportunities.
The only thing that makes me question picking my Caps on Friday night are the regular-season results. When Washington and Philly met during the regular season the visiting squad came away with the W every time.
If that continues again on Friday night that would mean the Flyers would take Game 1. However, I think I can count on Martin Biron to crumble under the playoff pressure and let in a few weak goals to keep the Flyers from stealing another win in Washington.
One other bet well worth making IMHO in this game is taking the OVER on the posted total. At BetUS.com, the total has been set at 5.5. During the regular season the total went OVER in three out of four games between Washington and Philly. Sez here the final score will be something like 4-2 or 4-3, which makes the OVER a smart play.
Good luck with your NHL playoff wagers tonight and this weekend.