NHL Thursday - Atl. @ Wash.

The Thrashers are trying to make it into the postseason for just the second time in franchise history, although it’s going to be a difficult task.

Atlanta currently sits 9th in the East, just two points back of a playoff spot with five games left. Unfortunately, the rest of their schedule reads like a Murderers Row. After this game against Washington, the Thrashers visit Pittsburgh, host New Jersey, travel to Washington again before closing the season at home…against the Penguins. If the Thrashers do make the playoffs, at least they’ll know that they earned their spot.

The Capitals, on the other hand, are not only in the playoffs but have clinched top spot in the East. The Caps might want to get used to their division rivals from Georgia. If Atlanta makes the playoffs as the eighth seed, then there will be at least a nine-game stretch where the Thrashers play the Capitals six times.  

Atlanta Thrashers @ Washington Capitals

Thursday, April 1st – 7:00 PM EST

Verizon Center, Washington DC

Broadcast: SS, CSW

NHL Betting Line: Capitals -290 

What The Thrashers Have To Do To Win:

Beating the best team in the Eastern Conference is never easy, but no team is ever running perfect. The Thrashers will have to capitalize on whatever is hurting the Capitals at this moment. Right now, it’s the inability to play great in the first period. Washington is currently in a rare three-game losing slide, with most of the blame going to the team’s poor performance out of the gate. Washington has been outscored 9-1 in the past three first periods they’ve played, and the team has gone 0-2-1 in that streak. This is where the Thrashers have to strike. They can’t risk trying to outscore the Capitals, or wear them down with strong defensive play. Atlanta has to strike hard and early, and force Washington to play from behind the entire game. The Thrasher foot has to be on the throat of the Capitals from the second the first puck drops. That sort of intensity comes from their leading player and coach. If Atlanta allows Washington to start strong, the momentum they’ll achieve may be deadly for Atlanta’s playoff hopes.  

What The Capitals Have To Do To Win:

The Capitals are undoubtedly the most dangerous team on offense, and their players know that. Perhaps that has been the problem as of late. It’s possible that the team has convinced themselves that a relaxed attitude on defense is ok, because the team can score enough goals to pull themselves out of any situation. That could be why the team has struggled to put together a full, 60-minutes effort as of late. That sort of attitude will kill any team, even one as gifted as Washington. For the final run of the season, Coach Boudreau may be well-served to focus his entire team on defense in order to warm up for the playoffs. Sacrifice one or two goals on offense in order to save one or two goals on defense. A renewed focus in the back-end could jumpstart the team and make them that much more dangerous.  

Outlook & Pick

Despite the recent cold streak, the Capitals are still one of the best teams in the league and it would be foolish not to bet on them when they’re at home. Granted, the Thrashes recent 6-2-1 record looks appealing, but a good amount of those games have come against bottom-feeder teams like Carolina and Toronto. They also lost six straight before their current streak. It’s been a good run for Atlanta, but their road to playoffs begins to die down in Washington.  

NHL Betting Pick: Capitals