Capitals vs Maple Leafs Prediction 12/18/25 NHL Picks Today

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals meet Thursday 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 Maple Leafs Prediction.

Toronto Maple Leafs Recap

The Toronto Maple Leafs come into this game looking to add on to their 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks last time out to sit at 15-12-5 this season. After this game, the Maple Leafs will head on the road for a game against the Nashville Predators.

Maple Leafs Snap Two-Game Slide

Going into the game against Chicago, William Nylander leads the Maple Leafs with 34 points on 11 goals and a team-high 23 assists while John Tavares has 30 points with a team-high 13 goals and 17 assists and Matthew Knies has 29 points with 7 goals and 22 assists. Auston Matthews has 21 points with 13 goals and 8 assists and Morgan Rielly has 23 points with 18 assists. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has 21 points with 16 assists. Anthony Stolarz has gone 6-5-1 with a 3.51 GAA and an .884 save percentage in goal for the Maple Leafs while Joseph Woll is 4-3-1 with a 2.44 GAA and a .928 save percentage. Dennis Hildeby is also 2-3-3 with a 2.72 GAA and a .923 save percentage this season. 

Why the Toronto Maple Leafs will win

• The Maple Leafs have won each of their last four games as underdogs against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Capitals have lost three of their last four games as favorites against Atlantic Division opponents.
• The Maple Leafs have covered the puck line in each of their last eight Thursday games as underdogs.
• The Capitals have failed to cover the puck line in seven of their last eight Thursday games as favorites.

Toronto Maple Leafs Player Prop Facts

• Matthew Knies has recorded at least one point in each of his last eight appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• Auston Matthews has scored a goal in each of his last seven Thursday appearances.
• Matthew Knies has recorded at least one assist in seven of his last eight appearances against Metropolitan Division opponents.

Washington Capitals Recap

The Washington Capitals come into this game looking to rebound from a 5-0 loss at the hands of Minnesota in their last game to sit at 18-11-4 this season. After this game, Washington will take on Detroit in the first leg of a home-and-home.

Capitals Lose 3 Straight

Tom Wilson leads Washington with 32 points including a team-high 17 goals and 15 assists while Dylan Strome has 23 points with 6 goals and 17 assists. John Carlson also has 24 points with 6 goals and a team-high 18 assists. Aliaksei Protas has 20 points with 10 goals and 10 assists while Jakob Chychrun has 26 points with 12 goals and 14 assists and Alex Ovechkin has 31 points with 14 goals and 17 assists. In goal for Washington, Logan Thompson has gone 13-7-3 with a 2.09 GAA and a .922 save percentage while Charlie Lindgren is 5-4-1 with a 3.10 GAA and an .887 save percentage so far this season.

Why the Washington Capitals will win

• The Capitals have won four of their last five home games.
• The Maple Leafs have lost four of their last five games following a home win.
• The home team has covered the puck line in each of the Capitals’ last five games.
• The Maple Leafs have failed to cover the puck line in four of their last five games.

Washington Capitals Player Prop Facts

• Jakob Chychrun has scored at least one goal in each of the Capitals’ last five games as home favorites.
• Tom Wilson has recorded an assist in each of the Capitals’ last five games as home favorites.
• Jakob Chychrun has recorded at least one point in each of the Capitals’ last 10 games as home favorites.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Maple Leafs’ last four games against Eastern Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Six of the Capitals’ last seven home games following a road loss have gone UNDER the total goals line.

Capitals vs Maple Leafs Prediction

I’m on Toronto in this one. I don’t love the current form of either one of these teams, but it’s not often that you’re going to get the Maple Leafs and plus money. That being said, they do have some road issues and I wonder if there’s a problem with this team that’s going to be an issue down the road. But I think Toronto figured something out and got a nice win by rallying against Chicago. I think Toronto could steal it here at a great price. Give me Toronto here.