Devils/Capitals Friday March 18 I know more Devils fading.
The Devils lose to Ottawa Thursday night 3-1 and come home to face Washington Friday night. The opener has the Devils favoured over the Caps and as usual I have to go against the Devils with a puck line bet on the dog the Caps. The puck line against the Devils has only not cashed once in last 10 or so when Atlanta had a tying goal disallowed in last minute and then beaten by the EN goal.
The Caps are a far better team than the Devils. The Devils were sellers at the trade deadline---to the Capitals as Arnott was traded there for Steckel--although Steckel not a bad player and Arnott far from his prime and injured anyway. My point here is that NJ doesn't consider itself a top club but the linesmakers do.
IMO Washington should be favoured -120 here. You get the Caps off a loss and although locked down for a playoff spot they are chasing for the conference championship and/or their divison championship. They have some key injuries to Green and Backstrom but getting Wideman at trade deadline has solidified them quite a bit I think that they can take the absense of Green and be a top team.
You go against the Devils who lose a critical game to a soft opponent like Ottawa on a first game of back to back and really their playoff hopes are very dim. Now I don't expect them to just stroll through this game but they are playing an elite opponent here and I would think + money on the Capitals would be a pretty good value bet or a +1.5 up to -300. I did +1.5-270 at Bet Cris. It is absolutely a must win for New Jersey I think to stay in the hunt but no dishonor in losing to the superior Caps.
