Montreal Canadiens vs
Washington CapitalsPredictions & Preview

Washington Capitals Favored to Dominate Montreal Canadiens in Eastern Conference Matchup at Capital One Arena

The Montreal Canadiens will face off against the Washington Capitals in an Eastern Conference NHL matchup at the Capital One Arena. The Canadiens are coming off a tough 8-2 loss against the Seattle Kraken, while the Capitals secured a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers in their last game. Washington is favored to win with odds starting at -205 and current line at -200. This is the first of three games between the two teams.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens +173 | Capitals -200
• Spread: Canadiens +1.5 (-145) | Capitals -1.5 (+125)
• Total: Over/Under 6 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Washington will win straight-up is 67%.

Montreal vs Washington Stats

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens have had a slower start to the season, currently ranking 17th in the NHL with 29 goals scored. Center Nick Suzuki is leading the team with 11 points and has been performing well in recent games. The team has been above league average on the power play, scoring on 22.86% of their opportunities. Goalie Sam Montembeault has been holding his own, but the team's defense has struggled, allowing 41 goals so far. The Canadiens have been decent on penalty kills, with an 83.78% success rate. The team has some key injuries to consider, with players like Justin Barron, Kaiden Guhle, and Patrik Laine out of commission. Overall, Montreal is currently ranked 21st in offense, 26th in defense, and holds a record of 4-5-1.

Washington Capitals Analysis

The Washington Capitals are struggling offensively, currently ranking last in the NHL with only 31 goals scored. Center Dylan Strome has been a standout player for the team with 11 points this season. Their power play has been ineffective, converting on just 2-of-27 attempts. Goalie Charlie Lindgren has a decent record but struggled in the last game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The team ranks fifth in goals allowed and is slightly above average in penalty kill efficiency. Several key players are listed on the injury report. Despite these challenges, the Capitals have a power ranking of 28 and rank #7 for offense, #11 for defense, and have an overall record of 6-2. The team has historically performed well against Montreal, with the Canadiens going 1-1-1 in their last three matchups against Washington.

Washington Capitals Expected to Dominate Montreal Canadiens in Faceoff and Goal Scoring Stats

In recent games, Montreal has been allowing an average of 4.8 goals, while Washington has been giving up 2.5 goals. Winning faceoffs is crucial for success, with Montreal ranking 28th in the league with a 46.6% win rate, while Washington ranks 19th with a 49.4% win rate. Based on these statistics, it is recommended to choose the Washington Capitals to win by 1.5 goals at home.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]