Facing each other for the third and final time this season, the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens clash at Bell Centre in an Eastern Conference showdown. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24, and it can be caught live on Sportsnet.
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Washington (+155) is currently the underdog to Washington (-175) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 money on the over and +100 on the under.
Washington is 43-31 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 74 regular season outings, 42 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just one has pushed. As the road team this season, the Caps are 17-20 SU.
Washington has converted on 22.4 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for seventh-best in the league. Its penalty kill is ranked 18th in the league, and it’s successfully killed off 79.9 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Caps have been sent to the penalty box 4.1 times per game overall during the 2017-18 season, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 27.5 saves per game with a .906 save percentage, Braden Holtby (31-19-4) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this year. If head coach Barry Trotz chooses to rest him, however, the team might turn to Philipp Grubauer (12-19-3), who has a .926 save percentage and 2.29 goals against average this year.
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin has 81 points via 44 goals and 37 assists, and has recorded multiple points 22 times. Kuznetsov has 21 goals and 50 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 42 games).
On the other side of the ice, Montreal is 27-48 straight up (SU) and has lost 24.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. 40 of its matches have gone under the total, while 32 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 17-20 SU at home this season.
The Canadiens have converted on just 20.2 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 31st overall, and it’s successfully killed off 74.9 percent of all penalties.
Montreal players have been called for penalties 3.8 times per game in total this season, 3.6 per game over their past five outings total, and 4.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties 12.8 minutes per contest over their last five home games.
Carey Price has denied 27.4 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for the Canadiens. Price has 15 wins, 29 losses, and six OT losses to his credit and has maintained a pedestrian 3.03 goals against average and a fairly-weak .903 save percentage this year.
Brendan Gallagher (27 goals, 19 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Canadiens.
Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 2-6 in shootouts.
The total has gone over in three of Montreal’s last five outings.
Washington’s attempted 28.9 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 32nd in the NHL), and 30.4 in its last 10 outings.
Over Montreal’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-7 in those games).
The Habs this season have recorded the third-most hits per game (26.1), but the team’s averaged 31.4 over their past five games as the home team.
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