Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction: Don’t expect productive match

Prediction for the NHL match which will take place on October 14. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Washington expectedly failed last regular season. From the very beginning of the season, several key players had health problems, leading to numerous point losses, so the Capitals quit playing altogether, losing 11 of their last 13 games. Now, it won't be any easier for them. The fact is that most of the team's leaders are veterans whose best years are clearly behind them, but expensive contracts do not allow the club's management to sign high-profile young hockey players who can help. Among the acquisitions, we can highlight only Max Pacioretty, who is also 34 years old and played only five games last season. Spencer Carbery will now serve as head coach.

Pittsburgh has a very similar problem. The Penguins failed to make the playoffs after the last regular season, but they only blame themselves for failing to finish the season. The day before, Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby opened their 18th season together, which is a reason to consider their age. At the same time, they all remain on big contracts, so it's extremely difficult to strengthen the roster with quality players. The Pennsylvanians worsened the situation by signing 33-year-old Erik Karlsson, who was -2 and scoreless the day before, and the Black-and-Yellows lost to Chicago 2:4.

Washington and Pittsburgh are the teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs at the end of the last regular season while experiencing similar problems with the roster, making their ambitions seem very modest in the current season. It's important to note that the Penguins did slightly better a year ago, finishing in ninth place versus the Capitals' 13th, and they've already played their first official game in the current championship, finding a competitive rhythm. They have won four of the last six head-to-head meetings at Capital One Arena.

It is unlikely that the upcoming confrontation will please us with high-goal activity. Surprisingly, the last personal meetings between the rivals in Pennsylvania were rich in goals. Still, on the ice of the Capital One Arena, there are problems with efficiency. In the five previous meetings, the rivals have combined for only 25 shots on goal (5.00 average per game).