Capitals vs. Penguins, NHL playoffs odds 2016: Pittsburgh set as small Game 4 home favorite

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 3-1 through four home games this postseason after going 0-4 in their previous four home playoff games. The Penguins hope to keep things rolling at home with another win in Game 4 against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh is a -115 home betting favorite on Wednesday night at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Washington will be looking for the upset as a slight underdog going off at -105 on the road.

The Penguins controlled the tempo through their first two games against the Capitals, going on the road to earn a split in Washington with a win in Game 2. Pittsburgh was on its heels for most of Game 3, but the Penguins were able to come away with a 3-2 win thanks to the sensational efforts of rookie goaltender Matt Murray.

Murray made 47 saves on 49 shots in the win, bringing his playoff record to 5-1 with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage.

Washington may have been the regular season’s best team overall, but no team came into the playoffs hotter than the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pittsburgh is now 20-4 over its last 24 games, per the OddsShark NHL Database.

Despite picking up the loss in Game 3, the Capitals should have some confidence moving forward in this series. After being outplayed in the first two games of the series, the Capitals dominated stretches of Game 3 and outshot the Penguins 49 to 23. If Washington can bring this same level of intensity into Game 4, it would be difficult for Pittsburgh to hold on for the win again.

Wednesday’s total is set at five goals at the sportsbooks. The OVER is 10-4-3 in Pittsburgh’s last 17 games.

Inconsistent goaltending has plagued the Penguins in recent playoff runs, but so far in a short sample size Murray has been extremely reliable. In what figures to be a long series between these two evenly matched rivals, goaltending could wind up being the difference, and Murray has bested Braden Holtby thus far.

Looking to avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole, Holtby and the Capitals should respond with their best effort in Game 4.