The Setup:
It’s Game 5 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals. The Washington Capitals lead the series 3-1 and have a chance to close it out at home.
Moneyline Odds:
- Canadiens: +158 (Underdog)
- Capitals: -192 (Favorite)
Revised What to Watch For:
- Capitals’ Closing Mentality: The Capitals have the chance to win the series on home ice. Will they embrace the moment and play with confidence, or will they feel the pressure and tighten up? Expect an aggressive mentality early.
- Canadiens’ Desperation: This is an elimination game for the Canadiens. They will play with maximum desperation, leaving everything on the ice. A fast start is a must. The risk of injury will be a non-factor in their players’ minds.
- Goaltending: Both teams will need strong performances from their goaltenders. A hot goalie can steal a game, especially in the playoffs. However, the pressure on the Canadiens’ goalie to be perfect is immense.
- Special Teams: Power play and penalty kill could be a major factor, especially with potential desperation penalties.
- Home Ice Advantage: The Capitals will look to capitalize on playing in front of their home crowd and use that energy to their advantage. The crowd will be electric.
- Key Players: Keep an eye on the stars of both teams. However, the role players on the Canadiens side will have to step up in a big way in order for them to stay alive.
Revised Prediction:
Given that Washington leads the series 3-1 and has a chance to close it out at home, and the money line odds indicate that they are the favorite, look for the Capitals to put the Canadiens away. This game will have a lot more on-ice animosity than those before it and the refs will be doing their best to contain it.
Revised Score Prediction: Capitals 4, Canadiens 1