The Montreal Canadiens welcome the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals to the Bell Centre on Saturday evening, with both teams showing contrasting forms heading into this Eastern Conference matchup.
The Capitals (17-6-2) have been one of the NHL's most impressive teams this season, leading the league in scoring with 4.1 goals per game while maintaining a solid defensive record that ranks eighth overall.
Montreal (10-13-2-1) enters the contest with renewed confidence after posting back-to-back victories, including an impressive 3-0 shutout against the Nashville Predators on Thursday.
The matchup features several key performers in excellent form, with Washington's Dylan Strome collecting six points in his last five games and Montreal's captain Nick Suzuki amassing eight points in his previous five outings.
While the Capitals claimed a convincing 6-3 victory in their October meeting, the Canadiens' recent defensive improvements at home - allowing just eight goals in their last five home games - suggest this encounter could be more closely contested.
This game marks the second half of a back-to-back for Washington following their Toronto visit, potentially giving Montreal an opportunity to capitalize on any fatigue from their division rivals.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals: who will win?
For tonight's Montreal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals matchup, our predictive model gives the Capitals a 63.75% chance of defeating the Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens: 63.75% win probability
- League-leading offense (105 goals scored in 26 games)
- Strong recent form (WLWWW in last 5 games)
- Eastern Conference leaders (38 points in 26 games)
Washington Capitals: 36.25% win probability
- Poor defensive record (94 goals against in 26 games)
- Last place in Atlantic Division (23 points in 26 games)
- Inconsistent scoring (73 goals in 26 games, bottom third in league)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals odds
| Montreal Canadiens | Washington Capitals | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +130 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | -150 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Montreal Canadiens have won 10 out of 26 matches this season.
- 2The Washington Capitals have won 18 out of 26 matches this season.
- 3With 23 points, the Montreal Canadiens holds the 16th position in the league standings.
- 4Washington Capitals's 38 points place them 1st in the rankings.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals form
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals head to head
Montreal Canadiens
50%
Washington Capitals
50%
Oct 31, 2024
Washington Capitals
6 : 3
Montreal Canadiens
Feb 18, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 4
Washington Capitals
Feb 7, 2024
Washington Capitals
2 : 5
Montreal Canadiens
Oct 21, 2023
Montreal Canadiens
3 : 2
Washington Capitals
Apr 6, 2023
Montreal Canadiens
6 : 2
Washington Capitals
Dec 31, 2022
Washington Capitals
9 : 2
Montreal Canadiens
