Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Vegas Play of the Day: Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins

Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20), of Denmark, battles for the puck with Toronto Maple Leafs center Leo Komarov (47), of Russia, during the second period of Game 5 in an NHL Stanley Cup hockey first-round playoff series, Friday, April 21, 2017, in Washington.

We’ve entered the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won the 2015-2016 season, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015. Bern stepped away in the middle of the 2016-2017 season with a 16-12 record and $13,317 bankroll, with Mike Grimala taking his place.

Washington Capitals Even money at Pittsburgh Penguins: $400 to win $400

Many would say the past has proven it foolish to back the Capitals in a playoff elimination game. I’d say it’s more foolish to pass up the best team in the NHL as an underdog in their most important spot of the season.

Yes, the Capitals were ousted in this same round in this same game, the sixth of the series, to this same Penguins’ team a year ago. It was the latest in a long recent history of postseason disappointment for the franchise.

Those struggles are more happenstance than predictive going forward, though. The Capitals’ team this year looks almost nothing like the teams that started the reputation for playoff failure.

Yes, the same core has underachieved the last two seasons. But that’s the nature of sports; some teams are going to be upset.

It’s less likely the Capitals get upset again, especially with the way they’re playing. Despite being down 3-2 in the series, the Capitals have 59 more shots on goal than the Penguins.

For the season series, the Capitals are still plus-5 in goal differential. They might be unlucky and get upset again anyway.

That’s what most of the betting market is counting on, with 70 percent of the tickets on the Penguins. I’m not, and would rather get behind the better team.

Current Standings: Grimala (9-12, $9,193), Granger (15-19-1, $8,667), Brewer (30-30-1, $7,425), Keefer (42-38-3, $7,330)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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