NHL Playoffs Betting Picks: Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Frank Martin

The second-seeded Boston Bruins begin their defense of the Stanley Cup when they host the seventh-seeded Washington Capitals in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Thursday.

The Bruins are winners of the Northeast Division and have home-ice advantage in the series. Washington took three of the four meetings this season, including both visits to TD Garden. The Capitals failed to clinch the Southeast Division for the first time since the 2006-07 campaign.

- Washington Capitals @ Boston Bruins
When: 7:30 PM ET, Thursday, April 12, 2012
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CBC, NBCSN, Comcast SportsNet Maryland (Washington), NESN (Boston)

The Bruins have opened as 185-moneyline favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NHL Hockey Odds.

Washington Capitals (42-32-8): Washington enters this postseason with its lowest seeding since missing the playoffs altogether in 2007. The Capitals will be forced to rely on third-string goaltender Braden Holtby, who has 11 NHL games on his resume. Tomas Vokoun remains out indefinitely after pulling his groin and Michal Neuvirth is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. It would be the third time in four years Washington has called on a rookie goaltender in the playoffs. Forward Alex Ovechkin posted the lowest point total and second-worst goal total of his career, but he caught fire by scoring 10 times in the final 13 contests of the regular season.

Boston Bruins (49-29-4): The Bruins won their first Stanley Cup title since 1972 last spring thanks to a spectacular run from goalie Tim Thomas. The American netminder earned Vezina and Conn Smythe honors after going 16-9 with a 1.98 GAA and .940 percentage in 25 playoff games. The pressure will be squarely on Thomas’ shoulders, as backup goalie Tuukka Rask remains out with a groin injury. Forward Nathan Horton will sit out for the entire postseason because of a concussion, the team announced Wednesday. The Bruins have momentum heading into the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 9-3-1 record.

1. Boston had six forwards post 20 goals or more this season. Tyler Seguin led the way with 29 markers while Brad Marchand added 28.

2. Ovechkin failed to score a goal in three games against the Bruins this year, but he dished out three assists.

3. Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk is expected to play despite a knee injury.

NHL PREDICTION: Bruins 2, Capitals 1

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alex ovechkin - boston bruins - brad marchand - braden holtby - conn smythe - johnny boychuk - michal neuvirth - nathan horton - stanley cup - td garden