AAA's MID-CHALK CHOKE-OUT (LAY IT & CASH IT!)
(NHL) Washington vs. Pittsburgh,
Money Line: -145.00 Pittsburgh (Home)
Result: Loss
This is an 8* MID-CHALK CHOKE-OUT on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

For a number of different reasons I expect the home side to find a way to get the job done at the end of the night. The Pens sit three points ahead of Washington, so to say both teams will be focused on the task at hand would be a bit of an understatement I think. Pittsburgh will also be especially determined to bounce back here after a 2-1 shootout loss at Chicago on Sunday; note that the Pens are 4-2-1 over their last seven games despite failing to find the back of the net on 15 power plays. This is also a double revenge game for the home side after falling 3-0 in Pittsburgh on December 27th and 4-0 Washington on January 28th. I think this does in fact set up as a bit of a letdown spot for the Capitals though after their big 5-3 win over the Ducks on Sunday. Also note that Penguins' goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury comes into this game on fire, posting a minuscule 0.49 GAA over his last four contests. And note that Washington is just 5-9 (-5.3 units) after a win by 2 goals or more, while Pittsburgh is 8-3 (+3.6 units) after scoring 1 goal or less in its previous contest. In my opinion, the situation, the numbers and the trends do all indeed point to the PENGUINS as the sharp move in this one.

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