Panthers vs. Capitals Prediction and Odds for Game 3 (Is Washington Doomed?)

The Florida Panthers rebounded from a 4-2 loss to Washington in a huge way, dominating Game 2 from start-to-finish in a 5-1 victory to even the series at 1-1.

Game 3 at 1:00 PM EST today shifts the series to Washington, where the Capitals have struggled. They went a meager 19-16 at the Verizon Center and seemed more comfortable when not playing in front of their home crowd.

Florida, meanwhile, has been exceptional on the road, going 24-11 on the year and 15-5 over their last 20.

It remains to be seen who will start in goal for Washington, as none of their goalies have looked sharp recently. Can they turn things around to pull off another upset or will the Panthers keep their foot on the gas in a dominant victory?

Let's take a gander at the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook to find the answers ahead of this Panthers vs Capitals Game 3 matchup:

Panthers vs Capitals Odds, Puck Line and Total

Puck Line:

• Panthers -1.5 (+120)
• Capitals +1.5 (-145)

Moneyline:

• Panthers: -200
• Capitals: +175

Total:

• 6.5 (Over -130/Under +110)

Panthers vs Capitals Prediction and Pick

In my opinion, the Panthers were far and away the best team in the NHL this season. They led the league in goals per game at 4.11 and won 15 of their last 20 on the road. Florida is a menacing offense to face, but especially when you have no faith in your goaltenders.

Vitek Vanecek was strong in Game 1 but came unraveled in the second matchup, giving up five goals on only 19 shots before getting pulled. Washington hasn't yet named a starter, but they're toast either way.

It's like when you place a bunch of bets on a beautiful Saturday morning, then hit your first one of the slate. You're a genius, right? This may be the Saturday you hit every wager and buy yourself something nice! But suddenly, you've lost four straight and your dreams vanish. You were always doomed, you just happened to win the first game.

It felt like the first game of the series was one where the Panthers needed to overcome their nerves. This was easily their best regular season in franchise history and there's a ton of pressure on them, so it makes sense they were out of sorts. Those concerns were put to bed in Game 2, as Florida looked like a team that can coast to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Crucially, there is no real home ice advantage for the Capitals either. They were a concerning 7-12 over their final 19 home games and they're hosting a Florida team that closed the regular season by winning nine of 11 on the road.

The Panthers survived Washington's first punch and despite the Capitals' best efforts, they're overmatched. When you're doomed, you're doomed - even if you win the first game.

Pick: Panthers -1.5 (120)

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.