Ice Hockey | Monday, December 19, 2022 1:01 PM

Washington Capitals Vs Detroit Red Wings Best Bet: Wings Feeling Like Icarus

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US Sports Expert

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS DETROIT RED WINGS BEST BET: MONDAY, DECEMBER 19

The Detroit Red Wings are doing their best Icarus impersonation, as they are watching their season melt into oblivion while plunging down the standings. Our resident hockey expert Ej Garr just reeled off a perfect week of pucks predictions, and it looks like the man has us ready for another plus-money offer when the Caps get their hands on the Wings on Monday night.

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WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS DETROIT RED WINGS PREVIEW

Tue, December 20th, 00:05 (UK time)

Melting away! The Detroit Red Wings are watching their season melt away, but by the same token, they are only 4 points behind the Caps who are playing outstanding hockey of late.

Detroit will be looking to shake off a 5-game losing streak on Monday night, as they have lost 8 of their last 10 games struggling to score goals. The Wings have only scored 7 goals through this current slide, and it has brought their defensive stats even harsher than they already were. Detroit is ranked 26th in the NHL putting shots on goal and 25th in the league only scoring 2.9 GPG.

What we see on paper only rings more accurately when you watch the dysfunction of the power play and the inability to work as a team. As you know, I called for all of this to happen to Detroit when the campaign got underway, and you can find me telling you that the Wings will not be a playoff team this year. I still believe as much, and the line setters have left me another opportunity to offer a plus money tip from this affair.

Who me? I only did that all of last week, so let’s not act surprised now!

The Capitals should have the wherewithal to know that Detroit is struggling to score, and I believe Washington will come out firing plenty of shots on goal to get an early lead. That just means a 1 – 0 opening frame to cash a +138 we have on the board playing the 1st period 1×2 line. I’ll assume by now that you all know Ovechkin is now one of only three players in the history of the NHL to have 800+ goals.

I am amazed how the Caps have not only held it together from all of the injuries, but it seems that everyone on this team can chip in and produce. Unselfish! That’s the best word I can use to describe how Washington is playing at the moment, as no one cares who scores the goals if it isn’t a dude wearing a #8 jersey.

Only one other player, Conor Sheary, has scored double-digit goals for Washington thus far, and with one more helper, he will be a 10-10 guy on a team full of players looking to make everyone better. When he does land that next assist, he will be one of 9 players averaging over 10 dimes on this roster, and I cannot even imagine when they get healthy where this team can go.

Even if the plan is to not let the Great Eight score all night, he is now also getting into dropping dimes and not stressing over a 50-goal campaign again. Sure, does he want it? Come on man, anyone who thinks Ovy doesn’t want to put up 50 goals this season is nuts, but winning games is the ultimate goal right now.

Washington is in no position to let up, and taking both points against Detroit is about as must as a must-situation can be. Not only can they form a little separation from the teams below them, but the momentum will come in handy as December comes to a close.