The Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens meet Friday in the NHL playoffs Game 3 at the Bell Centre. Here’s a Canadiens vs Capitals Prediction. This article will include a Canadiens vs Capitals Pick.
Washington Capitals Betting Preview
The Washington Capitals look for another win to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. The Capitals look to win three straight games for the first time since March 18-22.
The Washington Capitals are averaging 3 goals per game and are scoring 33.3 percent of their power play opportunities. Alex Ovechkin leads Washington with 2 goals, Dylan Strome has 3 assists, and Anthony Beauvillier has 8 shots on goal. Defensively, the Washington Capitals are allowing 1.5 goals per game and are killing 75 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Logan Thompson has given up 3 goals on 61 shots faced.
Montreal Canadiens Betting Preview
The Montreal Canadiens look for a win to all but save their season and avoid an 0-3 hole. The Habs have lost five of their last six games.
The Montreal Canadiens are averaging 1.5 goals per game and are scoring 25 percent of their power play opportunities. Christian Dvorak leads Montreal with 1 goal, Lane Hutson has 2 assists, and Juraj Slafkovsky has 9 shots on goal. Defensively, the Montreal Canadiens are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 66.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sam Montembeault has allowed 5 goals on 63 shots faced.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Canadiens have won each of their last nine home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Capitals have lost each of their last six road games following a win.
- The Capitals have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last eight games as road favorites against opponents on a losing streak.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in seven of their last eight night games at Bell Centre following a road loss.
- The Capitals have lost the third period in each of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents when trailing after the second period.
Why the Washington Capitals will win
- The Capitals have won each of their last eight night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have lost each of their last six night games following a road loss.
- The Capitals have covered the puck line in five of their last six night games at Bell Centre following a win.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five night games following a road loss.
- The Capitals have won the third period in each of their last seven games as road favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Nick Suzuki has scored at least one goal in each of the Canadiens’ last six home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded an assist in each of the Canadiens’ last four home games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens’ last seven home games against the Capitals.
- Mike Matheson ranks 1st in the Atlantic Division for average time on ice (25:05) this season.
Washington Capitals Player Prop Facts
- Tom Wilson has recorded an assist in each of the Capitals’ last four playoff games as favorites.
- T.J. Oshie has scored at least one goal in each of his last four playoff appearances against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Aliaksei Protas has recorded at least one point in each of his last 10 appearances with the Capitals as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Trevor van Riemsdyk has recorded two assists against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Canadiens vs Capitals Injury Report
The Canadiens will be without Rafael Harvey-Pinard.
The Washington Capitals will be without Martin Fehervary, while Aliaksei Protas is questionable.
Canadiens vs Capitals Prediction
The Capitals have now won five of the last six games against the Canadiens and were just as good on the road this season as they were at home. However, the same reason I took the Blues last night is why I’m going to show the Habs love in game 3. It’s pretty much a must win down 0-2 in the series, and the Canadiens were at their best at home, where 23 of their 40 wins have come.
The Canadiens were also competitive in the first two games of this series, which includes an overtime loss in game 1. A bounce here or a bounce there, and the Canadiens are in a much better spot. The Bell Centre will be rocking, and the Habs didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in the last four years to go down this quietly. Give me the Canadiens in game 3.