Montreal Canadiens vs
Washington CapitalsPredictions & Preview

Capitals favored as Canadiens face uphill battle in Game 1 of playoff series

The Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals face off in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, with Montreal coming off a 4-2 win over Carolina to secure their spot in the postseason while Washington fell 5-2 to Pittsburgh in their last game. The Capitals have a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 meetings with Montreal, but the Canadiens pulled off an overtime road win in their most recent matchup. Washington is favored to win, opening at -187 with the current line at -185.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Canadiens +164 | Capitals -185
• Spread: Canadiens +1.5 (-159) | Capitals -1.5 (+138)
• Total: Over/Under 5.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Washington will win straight-up is 65%.

Montreal vs Washington Stats

Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens secured a playoff spot by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in their regular season finale, ending a three-game losing streak. With a record of 40-31-11, Montreal finished fifth in the standings, 17 points behind Toronto. The Canadiens rank 17th in the league in offensive production, scoring an average of 2.96 goals per game, and are tied for 22nd in goals against, allowing 3.18 goals per contest. Their power play success rate is 20.1%, ranking them 21st in the league, while their penalty kill is 9th at 80.9%. In their crucial win over Carolina, Montreal outshot their opponent 29-22 and came out with a 4-2 victory. Sam Montembeault made 27 saves in goal, and Kaiden Guhle and Nick Suzuki contributed goals for the Canadiens. Montreal is ranked 15th overall and continues to be a competitive force in the NHL.

Washington Capitals Analysis

The Washington Capitals ended their regular season with a 51-22-9 record, finishing 12 points ahead of Carolina for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. They are ranked 2nd in the league in goals per game, averaging 3.49 goals, and tied for 8th in goals against, allowing 2.79 goals per game. Their power play success rate is 13th in the league at 23.5% and they are 5th in penalty killing, successfully navigating through 82% of their shorthanded situations.

In their final regular season game, the Capitals fell to defeat in the Steel City after struggling to find motivation on the road. Despite a strong start by Connor McMichael and Alex Ovechkin scoring his 44th goal of the season, Washington was outshot 38-20 and ultimately lost the game. Logan Thompson is expected to be the starting goalie for the Capitals in upcoming games.

Their power ranking is 6th, showing a strong offense ranking 2nd in the league with an average of 3.53 goals per game, and a solid defense ranking 9th, allowing an average of 2.80 points per game. Montreal has had recent success against Washington, going 2-0-1 in their last three matchups.

Montreal Canadiens Face Uphill Battle Against Playoff-Ready Washington Capitals

The Montreal Canadiens aim to become the latest team to challenge the Washington Capitals in the postseason, as the Capitals have a history of playoff disappointment. Despite a recent string of losses, the Canadiens secured a playoff berth by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes in their final game of the season. With limited playoff experience on the Montreal roster, performing under the pressure of playing on the road may prove to be a significant challenge. In contrast, the Washington Capitals have excelled at home this season with a record of 26-9-6 and a recent Stanley Cup victory. On the other hand, Montreal has struggled on the road with a record of 17-19-5. Considering these factors, it is likely that Washington will emerge victorious in this matchup.

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