The Washington Capitals (32-25-9) complete a five-game road trip on Monday against the Calgary Flames (33-29-5), looking to maintain momentum in the race for a playoff spot.
Getting a victory in regulation would further improve Washington’s chances of qualifying for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and bookmaker Pinnacle has the odds at 2.77 for Alex Ovechkin’s crew to win in 60 minutes. The odds are at 2.22 for Calgary to register the win in regulation and 4.19 for the game to end in a draw and head into overtime.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: March 17th, 9:00 P.M. (EST)
A mid-season slump saw Washington fall way off the pace in the battle for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the team has gone 9-4-1 in its last 14 outings, jumping right back into the mix. The Capitals currently trail the Detroit Red Wings, who hold the final wild-card position in the East, by a point, and Spencer Carbery’s team has two games in hand.
Ovechkin, of course, has been a key figure in the rise. The Capitals captain endured a very rough opening to the campaign, even having a career-worst 14-game goal drought through late November and December.
The nine-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner remains on track to have his worst-ever NHL season in terms of goal-scoring, but Ovechkin has upped his productivity in a major way during the second half of the season. If he can keep up his improved form, Washington should be in the fight to qualify for the playoffs right until the end.
Calgary also still has a chance to sneak into the top eight in the Western Conference, but it will require a massive effort over the final few weeks of the season. The team enters Monday’s action sitting eight points adrift from the final wild-card spot.
Similarly to Washington, the Flames have also played their best hockey of the season as of late, winning eight of their last 12 games. The team’s offense has caught fire, and cooling it down on Monday will be a major challenge for Charlie Lindgren, who has beaten Darcy Kuemper for the starter’s role in Washington’s crease.
Lindgren has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his seven appearances this month, putting together a 5-2-0 record. He’s gone 17-11-5 across the entire campaign, recording four shutouts and allowing 2.61 goals with a .914 save percentage. Lindgren will have a major part to play in Washington’s attempt to beat Calgary for the second time this season. The two also faced off right at the start of the season, on October 16, with the Capitals winning 3-2 in a shootout after erasing a two-goal deficit in the game.
