Analysis: Washington - Pittsburg, odds and tips

A fatal situation in the lineup is quite tangible for “the Penguins” from Pittsburg. The team owned by Mario Lemieux after a series of defeats fell out from the zone guaranteeing participation in the play-off.

Classification and team condition:
Washington – Pittsburg is a match of teams which are this NHL season’s biggest disappointment. Both teams had been enlisted to a group of teams which could have won the fight in the East, meanwhile Capitals (44) and Penguins (46) are under threat of impossibility to advance into the play-off stage.

Potential and team situation:
Hockey players from the capital are in a better situation before the match. Capitals is a team which plays badly in away matches (7-13). Although Dale Hunter’s players were favorites, now only “the Hurricanes” from Carolina have a worse result in the East. Verizon Center is a real stronghold since Washington can boast 14 wins and only 6 defeats at their own arena. During the holiday period Ovechkin and co won 4 matches in a row, each with 2 pucks minimum (against Rangers, Predators, Sabres, Flames). It is a great merit of the Russian forward who scored 4 goals in these matches and also Vokoun performing excellent at the gate’s line.
“The Penguins’” situation is slowly getting worse and worse. This is the result of injuries in the team’s lineup. Den Bayslma is in a seriously bad condition. It is unlikely surprising since in January even 8 players fell out from the team. This is especially seen in the attack line Crosby, Jeffrey and Staala. Engellanda and Martina, the main players in the Pennsylvanian team will be missing in the defense.

History of meetings:
4 out of 5 previous matches between Capitals and Penguins were won by the team from the capital. The results of these matches are: 3:1, 3:0, 1:0, 3:2 and 1:2.

Tips and grounds:
The prediction for Washington was determined by several factors. On the previous day Capitals had a rest and Penguins hosted Senators at their stadium. Moreover the guests have lost their condition since the beginning of the season and their shape in the new year does not impress. Injuries have also complicated the situation in the team and the weak statistics in last matches against Capitals.

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