Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Game 4 Odds, NHL Betting Pick

The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to avoid their third straight loss to the Washington Capitals when they host them Thursday in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference second-round playoff series as home favorites at the sportsbooks.

The Capitals rallied for a 4-3 win in Game 3 on Tuesday thanks to leading scorer Alex Ovechkin, who grabbed the game-winning goal with 1:07 left.

NHL betting line: The Penguins opened as -180 favorites (wager $180 to win $100); the total is at six goals, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.

NHL betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 3.0-2.5, Capitals. NHL picks on every game.

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Why the Capitals Can Pay on the NHL Lines

Washington might be in Pittsburgh's heads thanks to Ovechkin and the physical play of Tom Wilson. Ovechkin is finally starting to come through when his team needs him the most, while Wilson has provided some much-needed toughness in the past two games.

In Game 2, Wilson landed a questionable hit on Brian Dumoulin, and then he broke the jaw of Zach Aston-Reese in Game 3. The latter saw the NHL announce it had suspended Wilson for three games, starting with Thursday's contest. Goaltender Braden Holtby's performances are another reason why the Capitals have turned the tables on the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

Why the Penguins Can Pay on the NHL Lines

This time last year, the Penguins led the Capitals 2-1 before the series was tied and headed to a Game 7. They also lost their first home game to Washington, which has yet to lose on the road this postseason.

Fortunately, all Pittsburgh needs to do is bounce back in Game 4 to even the series. The good news is Evgeni Malkin returned to the lineup in Game 3 and contributed an assist in 19:07 of ice time after last playing on April 20. Malkin will be even more comfortable in Game 4, giving the Penguins another scoring threat.

Smart Betting Pick

This is close to a must-win situation for Pittsburgh, and it is 8-4 in the teams' past 12 meetings at PPG Paints Arena, according to the OddsShark NHL Database. The Penguins simply cannot afford to lose in this spot, with the Capitals set to host Game 5 on Saturday.

Wilson's presence will be sorely missed by Washington since he sparked the comeback and helped set up the game-winner in Game 3. Bettors should expect the strongest game of the series from Pittsburgh, knowing what is on the line, and wager accordingly.

NHL Betting Trends

Washington is 6-1 in its past seven games.

The total has gone over in eight of Washington's past 12 games.

Pittsburgh is 19-6 in its past 25 games at home.

All NHL odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.