The Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals meet Wednesday in NHL action from the Capital One Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Capitals vs Canadiens Prediction.
Series Recap
The Washington Capitals started the series on the right foot after opening the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in OT in game one. Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring for the Capitals with the lone goal of the opening frame on the power play, then Anthony Beauvillier doubled Washington’s lead with just under eight minutes to go in the second period. Montreal got on the board with a Cole Caufield power play goal just after the midway point of the third period and Nick Suzuki tied things up at two just 5:13 later, eventually sending us to OT. Ovechkin would cap off the festivities with (believe it or not) his first career playoff OT game winner.
Canadiens Looking To Even Up Series
Nick Suzuki has a team-high 89 points with 30 goals and a team-high 59 assists while Cole Caufield has 70 points with a team-high 37 goals. Mike Matheson has 25 assists while Juraj Slafkovsky has 51 points with 33 assists and Lane Hutson has 60 assists as well on the year. Brendan Gallagher has 38 points with 21 goals while Jake Evans has 36 points with 13 goals and 23 assists. In goal for Montreal, Sam Montembeault has gone 31-24-7 with a 2.82 GAA and a .902 save percentage while Cayden Primeau is 2-3-1 with a 4.70 GAA and an .836 save percentage this season. Jakub Dobes is also 7-4-3 with a 2.74 GAA and a .909 save percentage as well on the year.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Capitals have lost each of their last five games following a win.
- The Canadiens have won 10 of their last 18 games as road underdogs against the Capitals.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last six games against Eastern Conference opponents after coming off overtime.
- The Capitals have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last five games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Nick Suzuki has scored at least one goal in eight of the Canadiens’ last nine games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Lane Hutson has recorded at least one assist in each of the Canadiens’ last four games against the Capitals.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens’ last 13 games against the Capitals.
- Mike Matheson ranks 1st in the Atlantic Division for average time on ice (25:05) this season.
Capitals Trying To Defend Home Ice
Dylan Strome leads the Capitals with 82 points including 29 goals and a team-high 53 assists while Alex Ovechkin has 73 points with 44 goals and 29 assists and Connor McMichael’s added 57 points with 26 goals and 31 assists. Aliaksei Protas has 66 points with 30 goals and 36 assists while Tom Wilson has 65 points and John Carlson has 51 points with Wilson logging 33 goals and 32 assists and Carlson adding 46 assists. Pierre-Luc Dubois also has 66 points with 46 assists of his own. Jakob Chychrun has 47 points with 20 goals and 27 assists as well on the year. In goal for Washington, Logan Thompson has gone 31-6-6 with a 2.49 GAA and a .910 save percentage while Charlie Lindgren is 20-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and an .896 save percentage this season.
Why the Washington Capitals will win
- The Capitals have won each of their last seven night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have lost each of their last four road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Capitals have covered the puck line in 11 of their last 13 games against Eastern Conference opponents after coming off overtime.
Washington Capitals Player Prop Facts
- Alex Ovechkin has scored the first goal in each of the Capitals’ last three games as home favorites.
- Alex Ovechkin has scored at least one goal in each of the Capitals’ last six games as favorites.
- Dylan Strome has recorded at least one assist in each of the Capitals’ last six games as favorites.
- Alex Ovechkin has recorded at least one point in each of his last 12 appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Trevor van Riemsdyk has recorded two assists against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Total Goals Facts
- Six of the Capitals’ last seven games after coming off overtime have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Seven of the Canadiens’ last nine night games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
Capitals vs Canadiens Prediction
I’m on the under here. I think we could easily have a carbon copy of game one, as I expect this to be a tight series, and a tighter series than I had expected coming into the playoffs. The Habs are a scrappy team that will make life hell for Washington, but the goaltending I think is going to be on full display in this series. Give me the under here.