Rogers 10* Total MASSACRE >> NHL is ROLLING! 12-3-2 Last 17!
(NHL) Chicago vs. Washington,
Total: 5.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The 27-12-5 Chicago Blackhawks have 59 point, which is the most of any Western Conference team. The 27-9-5 Washington Capitals also have 59 points, which leaves them one point behind Columbus in the East's Metropolitan Division, a top-heavy league which features four teams with 57-plus points.The two hook up tonight in Washington.

Chicago: The Central Division-leading Blackhawks bring a four-game winning streak into Friday's game with the Capitals. However, all four wins have come at home, including Tuesday night's 4-3 overtime victory against the Red Wings. Chicago improved to 17-6-5 in one-goal games. The Blackhawks led 2-0 against Detroit, then trailed 3-2 before winning in OT on Duncan Keith's goal. "We've been finding ways to win," Keith told the Chicago Tribune. "We do a lot of good things. But there have been times where we still have to be better, whether it's lapses in the game or whatnot. I thought we did what we had to." Keith is one of four Blackhawks with more than 30 points, led by top-10 NHL scorers Patrick Kane (12 goals, 33 assists) and Artemi Panarin (17 goals and 25 assists). Vet Marian Hossa has notched an assist in two of his last four games since working his way back in the lineup following a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury. Goalie Corey Crawford has yielded 13 goals in his last five outings (4-1-0).

Washington: The Caps have won seven straight and along the way ended runs by Columbus (16 games) and Pittsburgh (five games) here at Verizon Center. Washington snapped Chicago's seven-game winning streak in the team's first encounter (back on Nov. 11) and look to put an end to the Blackhawks' current four-game run on Friday. Veteran forward Nicklas Backstrom collected a goal and three assists on Tuesday to increase his team-leading point total to 38, with 29 coming in his last 27 games. Alex Ovechkin's goal at 35 seconds of the first period got the Capitals started against the Penguins on Wednesday night. It was Ovechkin's 1,000th career point and he added a power play goal in the second period (he has 21 goals and 35 points this season).

The pick: The Verizon Center has been a graveyard for visiting teams' winning streaks as of late and may be again for Chicago. However, I'm playing the Over, as the Caps have scored 29 goals in their seven-game winning streak (4.14 per) and Chicago goalie Corey Crawford owns a 3.26 GAA versus Washington. Holtby's hot for teh Caps but Chicago has scored 15 goals (3.75 per) in its four-game winning streak. The Over is a 10* play.