The Washington Capitals have won twice after dropping three in a row and they'll look to win their third straight in a potentially payback game as the Caps fell to the Detroit Red Wings in their first meeting. They'll actually see the Red Wings twice this month at Capital One Arena beginning tonight at 7 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network as well as 106.7 The Fan and Caps Radio 24/7.
Before we get to our top 3 keys to a Capitals victory on Rock the Red Era night here are tonight's betting odds. Per Caesars, the Capitals are 1.5 goal favorites with -220 moneyline odds. The Red Wings are the underdog at +180. The game is set at an over/under of 6.0 goals.
#3 Keep emotions in check
The Caps have certainly done a good job of that whether it's Ovi rapping Bands a Make Her Dance in the tunnel before games and the culture in the locker room. It's as tight knit as its ever been perhaps since dare I say it... 2018.
The Caps were in a hostile but fun enivorment up in New York and they took care of business on the road over the Rangers thanks to an Alex Ovechkin tying goal and a Tom Wilson game winner in overtime. And that game was emotional in so many ways. That comes from just the nature of a good old fasioned rivalry game and once again we all got to see one at MSG.
As Thursday's slate of games end and teams wake up to new looks across the league with the trade deadline being at 3 p.m., the Caps are looking down on the rest of the East. They have a 40-14-8 record which is good for 88 points.
The Red Wings, who won the first contest between the clubs back on Dec. 29, have a record of 30-26-6 for 66 points. They're outside looking in when it comes to the wild card but only behind the Ottawa Senators (and Rangers) by a point.