The Washington Capitals (25-10-2) welcome the Minnesota Wild (23-11-4) to Capital One Arena for an intriguing cross-conference matchup that could have significant playoff implications for both teams.
The Capitals enter the contest riding high with four wins in their last six games, including an impressive 3-1 victory over Boston, while maintaining their position atop the Metropolitan Division.
Minnesota, despite missing key players Kirill Kaprizov and Jared Spurgeon to injury, has shown resilience by winning three of their last four games, highlighted by a recent 5-3 triumph over Nashville.
Washington's second-ranked offense (3.65 goals per game) will face a stern test against Minnesota's sixth-ranked defense, setting up an intriguing tactical battle between two well-matched teams.
The historical edge slightly favors the Wild, who hold a 6-3-1 record in the last ten meetings between these teams, including a 5-3 victory in their most recent encounter last January.
As both teams look to strengthen their playoff positioning, this matchup promises to showcase the compelling contrast between Washington's high-powered offense and Minnesota's defensive prowess, with special teams potentially playing a decisive role in determining the outcome.
Washington Capitals vs. Minnesota Wild: who will win?
For tonight's Capitals vs Wild matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps a 65.67% chance of defeating the Wild.
Washington Capitals: 65.67% win probability
- League-leading defensive efficiency (96 goals against in 37 games)
- Superior goal-scoring capability (135 goals for vs Wild's 113)
- Strong overall record (25 wins in 37 games, 1st in Eastern Conference)
Minnesota Wild: 34.33% win probability
- Lower scoring efficiency (113 goals in 38 games vs Caps' 135 in 37)
- Defensive vulnerabilities (104 goals against vs Caps' 96)
- Inconsistent recent form (WLWWL vs Caps' WLWLW)
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.
Washington Capitals vs. Minnesota Wild odds
| Washington Capitals | Minnesota Wild | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -145 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | +125 (via bet365 US) |
Key stats
- 1The Washington Capitals have won 25 out of 37 matches this season.
- 2The Minnesota Wild have won 23 out of 38 matches this season.
- 3With 52 points, the Washington Capitals holds the 1st position in the league standings.
- 4Minnesota Wild's 50 points place them 3rd in the rankings.
Washington Capitals vs. Minnesota Wild form
Washington Capitals vs. Minnesota Wild head to head
Washington Capitals
17%
Minnesota Wild
83%
Jan 24, 2024
Minnesota Wild
5 : 3
Washington Capitals
Oct 27, 2023
Washington Capitals
3 : 2
Minnesota Wild
Mar 19, 2023
Minnesota Wild
5 : 3
Washington Capitals
Jan 18, 2023
Washington Capitals
2 : 4
Minnesota Wild
Apr 3, 2022
Washington Capitals
1 : 5
Minnesota Wild
Jan 9, 2022
Minnesota Wild
3 : 2
Washington Capitals
