Panthers vs. Capitals Game 6 NHL Picks: Can Florida Close Out the Series?

Kyle Smith

Last Updated: May 13, 2022 4:13 AM EDT • 2 min 14 sec read. Twitter link Google News Link

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Ben Chiarot #8 of the Florida Panthers (C) celebrates his first period goal against the New Jersey Devils and is joined by Anton Lundell #15 (L) and Sam Reinhart #13 (R) at the Prudential Center on April 02, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by BRUCE BENNETT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The Washington Capitals will be fighting to avoid elimination on Friday night when they host the Florida Panthers in Game 6. Read on for our Panthers-Capitals picks and predictions.

Is this Washington’s last stand?

Down 3-2, the Capitals will be desperately trying to recreate the success they enjoyed in the early parts of the series. Washington was looking like a potential giant slayer until midway through Game 4. That's when the Capitals coughed up a third-period lead before squandering a 3-0 advantage in Game 5.

Now instead of leading the series 3-2 or already punching their ticket to the second round, the Capitals face a do-or-die scenario on Friday night. And the Panthers' vaunted offense is finally starting to score consistently.

Here are my Panthers-Capitals picks and predictions for Friday’s Game 6 showdown (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, and FanDuel Sportsbook; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5 star scale).

Panthers vs. Capitals Game Info

Date/Time: Friday, May 13, 7:30 p.m. ETTV: SN 360, TBS, TVAS, NBCS-DC, BSFLLocation: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Panthers vs. Capitals Odds Analysis

The Panthers opened as a -180 favorite and the line hasn’t really budged, with most of the cash coming in on them. You can scoop up the underdogs at +160 through DraftKings if you expect the Capitals to force Game 7.

With the two teams averaging a combined 6.4 goals per game in the series, the oddsmakers have set the total at 6.5. The Over is paying out at -130, while the Under is set at +110.

Panthers vs. Capitals Picks

Panthers (-180 DraftKings)????Over 6.5 (-130 DraftKings)????Carter Verhaeghe Over 0.5 goals (+215 FanDuel)????

Panthers vs. Capitals Predictions

Panthers (-180)

Something deep inside the Panthers clicked after looking cooked heading into the final minutes of Game 4.

Florida tied the contest with just over two minutes remaining before dominating during the early stages of overtime. The Panthers followed that up with another comeback win in Game 5. Now the Cats are finally starting to look like the team that won the Presidents’ Trophy.

The Panthers are starting to flex their offensive muscles a little bit while firmly in the driver's seat. They boast a superior Corsi for percentage, expected goals for, expected goals against, and expected goals for percentage.

And Washington is starting to run out of gas after a hot start to the series.

Check out our top-rated sportsbooks here

Over 6.5 (-130)

The league’s most terrifying offense hasn’t been firing on all cylinders thus far in the postseason, but the Panthers have still scored five-plus goals twice over five games. Not to be outdone, the Capitals are averaging the same amount of goals per game as the Panthers (3.2). They've also scored four-plus goals in both of their victories during the series.

The two teams combined for seven-plus goals in two of the past three games, so expect the Over to cash again on Friday night.

Verhaeghe Over 0.5 goals (+215)

Verhaeghe is quite possibly playing the best hockey of his life, with five goals and 10 points over five games. The first-line forward has lit the lamp four times over Florida's last two matchups, and he's averaging four shots per game during that red-hot stretch.

The 26-year-old winger will continue launching frozen rubber on Friday night, and one of those shots will find the back of the net.

Daily Betting Picks

MLB Best Bets Today Best Sports Bets Today NHL Best Bets Today

Where to Bet on Panthers-Capitals Picks

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

FanDuel Sportsbook Caesars Sportsbook DraftKings Sportsbook PointsBet BetMGM

SEE ALSO: All picks, odds, and sports betting news. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com’s community forums and betting tools.

Panthers-Capitals picks made on 5/13/2022 at 6:37 a.m. ET.

Written By:
Kyle Smith

A sportswriter for more than a decade, Kyle Smith was once voted “World’s 78th Greatest Lover” by ‘Relatively Attractive People Magazine’.* After covering nearly every sport under the sun for theScore, Smith settled in as head MMA writer where he helped shape the company’s coverage and establish its combat sports identity. Since then, he’s dipped his toes (cannonballed) into the world of betting, where he specializes in the UFC and NHL. Constantly chasing that gigantic Parlay Dragon, Smith was devastated when a Leon Edwards head kick completely obliterated a recent five-leg parlay. You can read his rantings and ravings on Twitter @Heldrificus. *Not a real publication.