Lightning vs Capitals: Lightning Facing Short-Handed Capitals Team

• The Tampa Bay Lightning are 1-1-1 in their last three games.
• The Washington Capitals have lost five of their last six games.
• The Lightning were 2-1-0 against the Capitals last season.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals Odds

Odds Taken from FanDuel Sportsbook

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals Picks

Tampa Bay Lightning beat Washington Capitals 4-2

Tampa Bay Lightning cover

Head-to-Head: Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals Predictions

The Tampa Bay Lightning will travel north to face the Washington Capitals. These two teams are very similar, as the Lightning only have one more point than the Capitals.

The Lightning have done an excellent job of maintaining their roster over the past five or so years. Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, and Nikita Kucherov have been in Tampa since 2008, 2009, and 2013 respectively, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made his Lightning debut in 2014. This continuity has allowed Tampa Bay to have a strong offense. However, their defense might need to improve as the season goes on.

The Lightning are averaging 3.23 goals per game, and that is in large part to Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Steven Stamkos, and Brandon Hagel. Nikita Kucherov has six goals and 15 assists. His 21 points lead all Lightning players. Brayden Point is not as good as Kucherov but has six goals and nine assists. Steven Stamkos has seven goals and six assists. 

The veteran has been particularly impressive on the power play. Five of Stamkos’ seven goals have come with a man advantage. Brandon Hagel plays the least of these four players but has five goals and six assists. Even though Hagel plays the least, he leads the Lightning with his +/- of eight.

Andrei Vasilevskiy and Brian Elliot make up Tampa Bay’s goaltending duo. Vasilevskiy plays significantly more than Elliot, but they perform similarly well. The duo has combined for a save percentage of .905 and allows 3.08 goals per game. This is not the top goaltending duo in the NHL, but they can hold their own.

The Capitals started the season well but are in a slump now and have lost five of their last six games. This slump is partially because of a rash of injuries. Carl Hagelin, Alexander Alexeyev, T.J. Oshie, and John Carlson are all on the injured list and will miss tonight’s game.

Even though the Capitals are dealing with many injuries, they still have some productive players in Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Alex Ovechkin is 37 years old but leads the Capitals with 13 points. Ovechkin may be the oldest Capital, but he plays over 20 minutes a game. Dylan Strome has four goals and eight assists; he is scoring on over 15% of his shots. Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the Capitals with nine assists but scores on less than 6% of his shots. 

Darcy Kuemper became the primary goaltender for the Capitals when he signed a five-year contract with them this offseason. The signing has paid off so far, as Kuemper only allows 2.47 goals per game. The 32-year-old may have a losing record, but he is playing very well this season.

The Lightning may be on the road, but they are healthier and playing better hockey. Bet on them to win the game.

Why Might the Tampa Bay Lightning Win?

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the superior team. With that being said, they only come into this game with -150 odds. This game will likely be close, but Tampa can pull away by scoring a power play goal and shooting as much as possible.

The Lightning do not have the best power play unit in the league, but they are dangerous with a man advantage. Tampa converts 22.22% of their power play opportunities. They will need at least one power play goal tonight, as they are on the road and road games are always more difficult.

The Lightning will likely face Darcy Kuemper in net for the Capitals. Kuemper is playing solid hockey and is a brick wall in net. The Lightning must inundate Kuemper with shots if they want to build a lead..

Why Might the Washington Capitals Win?

The Washington Capitals are short-handed but can win if they play a full team game and have good puck movement.

The Capitals are missing a handful of influential players. However, they can make up for that if each player does a little more than they are asked. Hockey is a team sport, and the Capitals need everyone to go above and beyond to win this game.

The Capitals have 68 assists on 41 goals this season. That is not a low amount of assists, but it could be better. Washington needs to pass the puck more. If they do, they will score more goals.

Lightning Key Players: (RW) Nikita Kucherov  

Nikita Kucherov may be entering his prime, and the Lightning have to take advantage of that. The 29-year-old’s 21 points are the third-most in the league.

Kucherov is doing everything right and needs to continue this high level of play.

Capitals Key Player: (LW) Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin is still a scoring machine, but his overall impact has been surprisingly negative. Ovechkin has a +/- of -13, the worst on the Capitals. He needs to be more intelligent on the ice and make smarter plays.

How to Watch Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 

• What - Tampa Bay Lightning vs Washington Capitals 
• Where - Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
• When - Friday, November 11, 7:00 PM EST
• How to Watch - NHL Network