text: Sharks vs. Capitals Pick - NHL Betting Prediction - January 22nd, 2019
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  Sharks vs. Capitals NHL Pick – January 22nd
  By Kyle E in NHL Picks — Jan 22nd, 2019 1:28am PST
  The San Jose Sharks failed to show up last night in Sunrise and paid for it with a 6-2 loss against the Panthers. Martin Jones was pulled after allowing 5 goals. Aaron Dell replaced Jones and allowed a goal in with less than a minute left in regulation to make it a 6-2 final score.
  This was a game going into the 3rd period at 2-2, but the Panthers took firm control with 4 goals in the final frame. It's a good win for the Panthers, who have been able to secure recent wins against the Maple Leafs and Sharks.
  Right about now would be the perfect time for the Panthers to put a nice run together. The Sharks were on a nice eight-game tear, though they are looking at a four-game losing streak if they lose again tonight. With the Capitals on the docket, they won't be able to catch a breather after getting blown out by the Panthers. However, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a better effort from them tonight. Dell is likely to get the nod in net after Jones started in Sunrise last night. It would have been nice if he was going into tonight without having to play last night, though.
  They aren't going home yet, but are going to be on break after tonight. It would be nice to avoid a four-game skid going into the All-Star break. However, the Capitals are hoping to avoid a lengthy six-game losing streak. A loss against the Sharks this evening would hand the Capitals their sixth loss in a row.
  This team has been so hot and cold in 2018-19 that it's difficult to keep up. If you were following along when Alex Ovechkin was going on his hat-trick spree and haven't been paying attention since, it'd come as a surprise to see the Capitals so cold right now. Head below for our free Sharks vs. Capitals pick.
  Erik Karlsson will be absent on the ice again tonight, as the Sharks are shutting him down until after the All-Star break. Smart move because they're going to need Karlsson playing at full strength for the final push in a few months. Risking him turning it into something more serious isn't worth it. In any case, it's pretty clear that the Sharks need some help on their blue line.
  For the third consecutive game, the Sharks have allowed 6 goals. With seconds remaining against the Panthers, they let in their 6th goal to match their goals against versus the Coyotes and Lightning. Most teams have felt the wrath of the Tampa offence, but allowing 6 to the Coyotes and Panthers is a bit cringy.
  With the Capitals struggling, they get a struggling San Jose defence to hopefully gain some momentum on Tuesday night. There were no issues with scoring goals against the Blackhawks, as they rattled off 5 but allowed 8 in a humiliating 8-5 loss against the Hawks on Sunday.
  It can't get much worse than that for the Caps. The Sharks have allowed over 3 goals per game in their last ten games, and have been at the worst recently with 6 goals allowed in each of their previous three outings. On the road they are nearing 4 goals allowed per game. Dell, who is presumably starting tonight, owns a 3.11 GAA and 0.891 save percentage.
  The Capitals' sharpshooters are likely going to find room for chances in this one. However, in their last four games, the Caps have allowed 5.25 goals per game and in their last ten, 3.7 per game. The Sharks should be able to respond tonight and get a better effort offensively. They look ripe for another loss on a back-to-back against a Washington team who needs a lift. However, I would rather take the cheaper price on the total instead of paying -140 or more on the moneyline. The Sharks will probably put up a fight and help push this one OVER the total.