The Washington Capitals (27-10-4) welcome the Montreal Canadiens (19-18-3) to Capital One Arena on Friday night in what promises to be an intriguing Eastern Conference matchup.
The Metropolitan Division-leading Capitals, who have alternated between wins and losses in their last nine games, are coming off a solid 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks and boast the NHL's second-best scoring average at 3.7 goals per game.
Montreal enters the contest riding a wave of momentum, having won two straight games and five of their last six, including an impressive 5-4 overtime victory against Vancouver powered by Nick Suzuki's game-winner.
The matchup features compelling storylines at both ends of the ice, with Washington's Alex Ovechkin (19 goals) leading their potent offense while Montreal's Cole Caufield (22 goals) continues his breakthrough season.
Both teams will need to overcome significant absences, as the Capitals will be without Sonny Milano, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie, while Montreal continues to adapt to life without veteran netminder Carey Price.
With Washington's dominant 14-4-3 home record facing off against Montreal's recent surge, this contest could provide crucial points in the increasingly competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens: who will win?
For tonight's Washington Capitals vs Montreal Canadiens matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps a 71% chance of defeating the Habs.
Washington Capitals: 71% win probability
- League-leading offense (150 goals for, highest in Eastern Conference)
- Strong defensive record (109 goals against, 2nd best in Eastern Conference)
- Excellent overall record (27-10, 1st in Eastern Conference with 58 points)
Montreal Canadiens: 29% win probability
- Poor defensive performance (136 goals against, 11th in Eastern Conference)
- Inconsistent scoring (122 goals for, ranked 9th in Eastern Conference)
- Struggling road record (19-18 overall record, 11th place in Eastern Conference)
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. Montreal Canadiens odds
| Washington Capitals | Montreal Canadiens | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | -205 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | +175 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Washington Capitals have won 27 out of 41 matches this season.
- 2The Montreal Canadiens have won 19 out of 40 matches this season.
- 3With 58 points, the Washington Capitals holds the 1st position in the league standings.
- 4Montreal Canadiens's 41 points place them 11th in the rankings.
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens form
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens head to head
Washington Capitals
50%
Montreal Canadiens
50%
Dec 8, 2024
Montreal Canadiens
2 : 4
Washington Capitals
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
