The Washington Capitals' remarkable season continues to unfold as they welcome a Detroit Red Wings team desperate to reverse their recent slide at Capital One Arena on Tuesday night.
While the Caps have been lighting up the scoreboard with 29 goals in their last seven games behind the dynamic trio of Strome, Protas, and Dubois, Detroit's offense has sputtered to just five goals in their previous two outings despite the best efforts of Raymond and Larkin.
The contrast between the league-best Capitals defense allowing just 2.57 goals per game and Detroit's struggling blue line could be the difference when the Eastern Conference leaders face off against a Red Wings squad fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Washington Capitals vs Detroit Red Wings matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps a 74% chance of defeating the Wings.
Washington Capitals: 74% win probability
- League-leading point total (96 points in 67 games)
- Elite offensive production (244 goals scored, highest in Eastern Conference)
- Strong recent momentum (WLWWW in last 5 games)
Detroit Red Wings: 26% win probability
- Struggling defense (211 goals against, 10th worst in conference)
- Poor road performance (32 points in 67 games, 10th in conference)
- Inconsistent form (WLWLL in last 5 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. Detroit Red Wings odds
Here are the latest odds for this NHL matchup as the Washington Capitals host the Detroit Red Wings at home on Tuesday, March 18.
| Washington Capitals | Detroit Red Wings | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -190 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | +162 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) |
Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings preview
The red-hot Washington Capitals are looking to cement their dominance in the Eastern Conference as they host a struggling Detroit Red Wings squad at Capital One Arena.
Detroit's offense has hit a rough patch lately, with Lucas Raymond and Dylan Larkin carrying most of the scoring load, but they'll need more firepower to crack the Caps' stingy defense that's giving up just 2.57 goals per game.
Washington's dynamic duo of Jakob Chychrun and John Carlson has been terrorizing opponents from the blue line, while the emergence of Logan Thompson between the pipes has given them an extra edge.
The Caps' offense has been clicking on all cylinders, putting up an impressive 29 goals in their last seven games, with Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois leading the charge.
Detroit's netminder Cam Talbot hasn't found his rhythm yet, posting a concerning -1.4 goals saved above average, which could spell trouble against Washington's high-octane attack.
Keep an eye on Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, who've been quietly racking up points and could exploit the gaps in Detroit's defensive coverage.
The Capitals' home ice advantage at Capital One Arena, combined with their league-best defense, makes this an uphill battle for the visiting Red Wings.
With Detroit desperate to stay in the playoff hunt and Washington looking to lock up their postseason spot, expect an intense, physical matchup that could showcase just how far these teams have drifted apart this season.
Key stats
- 1Capitals lead Eastern Conference with 96 points through 67 games, while Red Wings sit 10th with 70 points
- 2Capitals boast superior goal difference of +69 compared to Red Wings' -17
- 3Capitals show strong recent form (WLWWW) versus Red Wings' inconsistent stretch (WLWLL)
- 4Washington averages 3.64 goals per game while Detroit manages 2.89, highlighting offensive gap
Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings form
Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings head to head
Washington Capitals
50%
Detroit Red Wings
50%
Mar 8, 2025
Washington Capitals
5 : 2
Detroit Red Wings
Dec 29, 2024
Detroit Red Wings
4 : 2
Washington Capitals
Apr 9, 2024
Detroit Red Wings
1 : 2
Washington Capitals
Mar 26, 2024
Washington Capitals
4 : 3
Detroit Red Wings
Feb 28, 2024
Detroit Red Wings
8 : 3
Washington Capitals
Sep 30, 2023
Detroit Red Wings
5 : 2
Washington Capitals
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