Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Florida Panthers and the Washington Capitals meet at Capital One Arena Saturday afternoon for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, a best-of-seven series. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on ESPN.

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Score Prediction

Panthers 4, Capitals 2

Best Bet

Panthers -1.5 (+145)
Under 6.5 (+106)

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FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS PREDICTIONS

The Panthers were stunned in the series opener at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, as the Capitals doubled up the heavily-favored President's Trophy winners by a 4-2 score. Florida restored order in Game 2, and made sure not to join fellow Sunshine State rival Tampa Bay as the latest President's Trophy team to get swept in the first round. The Panthers haven't won a playoff series since 1996, but they're making a series of this, and with a win in Game 3 in Washington, they can re-gain the upper hand, too.

The Cats chased Vitek Vanecek, who allowed five goals on 19 shots in the first two periods. Ilya Samsonov came on and turned aside all 17 shots he faced in the third period, and is likely to get the nod for Game 3.

In Game 2, there were a total of six goals on the board through two periods, but OVER bettors were unable to get any goals in the third period for a difficult loss in terms of the total, the second in as many games in this series.

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FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS BETTING ODDS

Panthers -179
Capitals +145
Panthers -1.5 (+145)
Capitals +1.5 (-175)
Over 6.5 (-125)
Under 6.5 (+106)

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Updated on 03/28/2024
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FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Date: Saturday, May 7, 2022
  • Matchup: Atlantic vs. Metropolitan
  • Venue: Capital One Arena
  • Location: Washington, D.C.
  • TV-Time: ESPN, 1 p.m. ET

FLORIDA PANTHERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 59-19-6
  • ATS: 43-41
  • O/U: 44-32-8

The Panthers saw five different goal scorers light the lamp, as Aaron Ekblad and Sasha Barkov notched even-strength goals in the first period, followed by even-strength goals from Mason Marchment, Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe in the second period. That was enough for Sergei Bobrovsky, who allowed just one power-play goal to Nicklas Backstrom on 27 shots in Game 2.

Florida heads into this one with 19 victories in the past 26 road games, while going 19-7 in the past 26 as a road favorite, too However, they're just 4-9 in the past 13 against winning teams, 2-5 in the past seven playoff games as a favorite and 3-7 in the past 10 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals games. Despite their Game 2 win, Florida has plenty of work to be done if it wants to re-gain home-ice advantage.

For totals, it's been all about the UNDER lately, including the first two of this series. The UNDER is 8-2-4 in the past 14 games for the Cats, while going 5-1 in the past six against winning teams. The UNDER is also 5-0 in the past five playoff games as a favorite, while going 5-0 in the past five ECQ games. The UNDER is 4-1-1 in the past six on the road, too.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 45-27-12
  • ATS: 43-41
  • O/U: 46-34-4

The Capitals have still managed just the one win in Game 1 across the past six games overall, and the Caps have won just once in the past six playoff games as an underdog, too. The Caps are 2-7 across the past nine games in the Quarterfinals Round, too.

As far as totals are concerned, the UNDER is 5-1-1 in the past seven games overall, while going 4-1 in the past five as an underdog. The UNDER is 4-0-1 in the past five Conference Quarterfinals games, too. The OVER is 5-2-2 in the past nine games at home, while going 6-1-1 in the past eight as a home underdog.

The Panthers look to push around the Capitals in Washington in Game 3. (Getty Images)

FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS CONCLUSION

The Panthers hit the road for the first time in these playoffs, and playing at Capital One Arena will be quite the test. Florida is just 6-16 in the past 22 trips to the nation's capital, while the home team is 5-1 in the past six meetings in this series. The Caps won 4-3 on Nov. 26 against the Panthers in the only meeting this season in D.C. as the OVER connected, with the Panthers winning both meetings in the regular season by a 5-4 count.

The Panthers are rather heavy favorites on the road, but this will certainly be close. In fact, I'd roll with the Panthers on the road, but you'll likely need an empty-net goal in the closing moments of Game 3 to cash, so be cautious and only play a small-unit wager. The best bet might be the UNDER, which has hit in each of the first two games. Samsonov did a good job in the crease, and Bob was sharp in Game 2. This might be the lowest-scoring game of the series after the change of venue.

FLORIDA PANTHERS vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS BETTING TRENDS

  • Panthers are 41-14 in the past 55 games overall.
  • Panthers are 19-7 in the past 26 road games.
  • Panthers are 3-7 in the past 10 Eastern QF games.
  • Panthers are 2-5 in the past seven playoff games as a fave.
  • Capitals are 1-5 in the past six games overall.
  • Capitals are 1-5 in the past six playoff games as a 'dog.
  • Capitals are 2-7 in the past nine Eastern QF games.
  • UNDER is 8-2-4 in the past 14 games for the Panthers.
  • UNDER is 4-1-1 in the past six road games for the Panthers.
  • UNDER is 5-0 in the past five Eastern QF games for the Panthers.
  • UNDER is 5-0 in the past five playoff games as a fave for the Panthers.
  • UNDER is 5-1-1 in the past seven games for the Capitals.
  • OVER is 5-2-2 in the past nine home games for the Capitals.
  • UNDER is 4-1 in the past five as a 'dog for the Capitals.
  • UNDER is 4-0-1 in the past five Eastern QF games for the Capitals.
  • Panthers are 6-16 in the past 22 trips to Washington.
  • Home team is 5-1 in the past six meetings.
  • OVER is 8-2 in the past 10 meetings.
  • OVER is 4-0 in the past four meetings in D.C.

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