Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins Prediction, 4/18/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Capitals vs Boston Bruins

Date: Sunday, April 18, 2021

Location: TD Garden in Boston, MA

TV: NBC

Odds/Point Spread: Capitals (+100) Bruins (-120)

Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins (24-12-6) host the Washington Capitals (28-12-4) at TD Garden on Sunday. The odds on this matchup have the Capitals priced at +100 and the Bruins are at -120. The over/under is set at 6.5.

The Capitals had a rough game after their 5-2 defeat against the Sabres in their previous outing. The offensive zone starts for them were at 63.4% and their PDO was 94.2 for this one. They totaled 24 face-off victories when at even strength and were beaten on 14 attempts to control the puck. Their Fenwick was 42 and the Fenwick Against sat at 37, meaning the had a Fenwick percentage of 53.2%. The Corsi for the Capitals sat at 53 and the Corsi against when all was said and done was 46 which had their Corsi rate coming in at 53.5%. Washington had 8 mins in the box in this matchup. They also had 3 power play attempts but weren't able to convert one of them into a goal. The Capitals could have played much better offensively in this defeat. In the game, they tallied a score on 2 of the 29 shots they tried.

The Capitals have had 1,300 shots taken against them and have a save percentage of .900. At even strength, the Capitals have allowed 108 goals while notching 121 when they are on offense. Washington Capitals opponents have recorded 132 power play opportunities (14th in hockey) and have earned 22 goals in those chances. For the current campaign, they have accumulated 60 points and their points percentage is sitting at .682. Washington has tried 1,244 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 12.2%. Concerning their goal scoring prowess, the Washington Capitals have racked up 152 goals (2nd in the NHL) for the season and have surrendered 130. Washington is sitting with 116 power play opportunities and they have notched 31 goals during those chances, giving them a percentage of 26.72%.

Protecting the goal for this matchup will be Vitek Vanecek. For his career, Vanecek has earned 16 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .552. His save percentage currently is at .911 in his 1,697 mins in the crease. Vanecek has had 851 shot attempts taken against him and has recorded 775 total saves. The opposition has racked up 76 goals against Vanecek in his career and his goals against average is 2.69. He has accumulated a record of 17-8-3 and was named the starter in 29 games. Vanecek has been in goal for 30 games over the course of his NHL career.

When they took the ice last, Boston opposed the Islanders in a game where the Bruins notched a victory by a final score of 3-0. Their PDO at even strength was 113 and their percentage of oZS was 35.7%. They had 3 opportunities on the power play in this outing but weren't able to score a goal. Their Fenwick rate was 56.6% with a Fenwick of 30 and the Islanders having racked up a 23 Fenwick at even strength. The Bruins scored 3 goals of the 28 shots on goal they took. Boston wrapped up this game with a 58.0% Corsi rating. These Corsi stats tell us the story of the kind of game Boston played and you can say they had a mediocre outing.

The Bruins have earned 86 goals at even strength and 29 goals (11th in the NHL) while on the power play. Boston has attempted 1,361 shots (5th in the NHL) and has accumulated a shot percentage of 8.45%, while allowing the opposition 1,153 shots. So far this season, the Boston Bruins have notched a total of 115 goals, 54 points, as well as a points percentage of .643. They have a tally of 129 power play chances and they have a power play rate of 22.48%. They have a penalty kill percentage of 86.52% on their opponents 141 power play opportunities, and their save percentage is currently 90.9%. They have allowed 105 goals to be scored by of a combination of 86 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they were shorthanded.

Across the ice you are going to see Tuukka Rask protecting the goal. Opponents are averaging 2.27 goals/game and he has conceded 1,199 goals altogether. Rask's quality start rate comes out to 60.8% and he has qualified for 323 quality starts in his hockey career. He got the starting nod in 531 games and has played for a total of 31,744 minutes. Rask has accumulated a career record of 300-162-66 and has been in net for 552 games. He has gathered 14,075 stops out of the 15,274 shots attempted, giving him a save % of .922.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Washington (+100)

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