The NHL-leading Washington Capitals (38-11-8) welcome the Calgary Flames (27-21-8) to Capital One Arena on Tuesday night in what promises to be an intriguing cross-conference matchup.
The Capitals enter the contest riding high after Alex Ovechkin's hat trick powered them to a commanding 7-3 victory over Edmonton, while the Flames recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a narrow 3-2 win against San Jose.
Washington's league-best offense, averaging 3.6 goals per game, will test Calgary's middling defense that allows 3.0 goals per contest.
The historical matchup favors the home team, with Washington having won five of their last seven meetings against Calgary on home ice.
Both teams will need to overcome significant absences, as the Capitals will be without Sonny Milano, T.J. Oshie, and Nicklas Backstrom, while the Flames must cope without Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirkland.
With Washington's impressive 6-1-3 record in their last ten games and Calgary fighting for a Wild Card spot, this matchup could prove crucial for both teams' respective aspirations.
Washington Capitals vs. Calgary Flames prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Washington Capitals vs Calgary Flames matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps an 80% chance of defeating the Flames.
Washington Capitals: 80% win probability
- League-leading offense (211 goals for, highest in Eastern Conference)
- Exceptional recent form (WWLWW in last 5 games)
- Strong defensive record (146 goals against, among best in conference)
Calgary Flames: 20% win probability
- Poor goal differential (-16, with 151 goals for vs 167 against)
- Inconsistent recent form (WLLLW in last 5 games)
- Struggling road record (9th place in Western Conference with 62 points in 56 games)
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. Calgary Flames odds
Here are the latest odds for this NHL matchup as the Washington Capitals host the Calgary Flames at home on Tuesday, February 25.
| Washington Capitals | Calgary Flames | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -198 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | +172 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
Washington Capitals vs. Calgary Flames preview
The NHL-leading Washington Capitals (38-11-8) are set to host the Calgary Flames (27-21-8) in what promises to be an intriguing matchup at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night.
The Capitals enter this contest riding high after a dominant 7-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers, highlighted by Alex Ovechkin's impressive hat trick, while the Flames recently snapped a three-game losing streak with a narrow 3-2 win against the San Jose Sharks.
Washington has been nothing short of exceptional this season, leading the NHL in scoring with 3.6 goals per game while maintaining the league's third-best defense, allowing just 2.5 goals against.
The Capitals' recent form has been particularly impressive, going 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, with their success largely driven by Dylan Strome's team-leading 58 points and Ovechkin's 29 goals.
Calgary, currently battling for a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, has struggled to find consistent offensive production, averaging just 2.6 goals per game despite solid performances from Jonathan Huberdeau (21 goals) and Nazem Kadri (42 points).
The head-to-head history favors the Capitals, who have won five of their last seven home games against Calgary and four of the last five meetings overall.
Both teams will be dealing with notable absences, as Washington plays without Sonny Milano, T.J. Oshie, and Nicklas Backstrom, while Calgary misses Anthony Mantha and Justin Kirkland.
The goaltending matchup features Washington's Logan Thompson (25-2-5, 2.25 GAA) against Calgary's Dustin Wolf (20-11-3, 2.62 GAA), with Thompson's stellar record giving the Capitals a significant edge between the pipes.
With Washington's high-powered offense and recent tendency for high-scoring games - having hit the over in their last seven contests - fans can expect an entertaining matchup with plenty of scoring opportunities.
Key stats
- 1Washington Capitals lead Eastern Conference with 84 points, while Calgary Flames sit 9th in Western with 62 points
- 2Capitals have best win-loss record in East (38-11), Flames struggling at 27-21
- 3Capitals boast +65 goal difference (211 GF, 146 GA) vs Flames' -16 (151 GF, 167 GA)
- 4Capitals showing strong form (WWLWW) compared to Flames' inconsistent streak (WLLLW)
Washington Capitals vs. Calgary Flames form
Washington Capitals vs. Calgary Flames head to head
Washington Capitals
83%
Calgary Flames
17%
Jan 29, 2025
Calgary Flames
1 : 3
Washington Capitals
Mar 19, 2024
Calgary Flames
2 : 5
Washington Capitals
Oct 16, 2023
Washington Capitals
3 : 2
Calgary Flames
Dec 4, 2022
Calgary Flames
5 : 2
Washington Capitals
Nov 25, 2022
Washington Capitals
3 : 0
Calgary Flames
Mar 9, 2022
Calgary Flames
4 : 5
Washington Capitals
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