Washington Capitals (51-22-9) vs Montreal Canadiens (40-31-11)
Game Info: Monday, April 21, 2025 at 7:00 pm (Capital One Arena)
The Line: Betting Odds: Washington Capitals -198 / Montreal Canadiens +164 — Over/Under: 5.5
The Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals meet Monday in NHL action from the PPG Paints Arena. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals prediction.
Matchup History
The Washington Capitals won the season series between these two teams 2-1, first winning in Washington 6-3 on October 31st, 2024, then in Montreal, 4-2 on December 7th, 2024. The Canadiens got their revenge with a 3-2 OT win in Washington on January 10th, 2025.
Montreal Canadiens Recap
The Montreal Canadiens come into the playoffs as the second Wild Card entry in the Eastern Conference, finishing the year with an overall record of 40-31-11.
Canadiens Trying To Shock The Hockey World In First Non-Covid Playoff Appearance Since 2019-20
Nick Suzuki has a team-high 89 points with 30 goals and a team-high 59 assists while Cole Caufield has 70 points with a team-high 37 goals. Mike Matheson has 25 assists while Juraj Slafkovsky has 51 points with 33 assists and Lane Hutson has 60 assists as well on the year. Brendan Gallagher has 38 points with 21 goals while Jake Evans has 36 points with 13 goals and 23 assists. In goal for Montreal, Sam Montembeault has gone 31-24-7 with a 2.82 GAA and a .902 save percentage while Cayden Primeau is 2-3-1 with a 4.70 GAA and an .836 save percentage this season. Jakub Dobes is also 7-4-3 with a 2.74 GAA and a .909 save percentage as well on the year.
Why the Montreal Canadiens will win
- The Capitals have lost three of their last four games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The underdogs have won three of the Capitals’ last four games at Capital One Arena.
- The Canadiens have covered the puck line in each of their last nine Monday road games.
- The Capitals have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
Montreal Canadiens Player Prop Facts
- Nick Suzuki has scored at least one goal in seven of the Canadiens’ last eight games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one assist in five of the Canadiens’ last six games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- Nick Suzuki has recorded at least one point in each of the Canadiens’ last 12 games against the Capitals.
- Mike Matheson ranks 1st in the Atlantic Division for average time on ice (25:05) this season.
Washington Capitals Recap
The Washington Capitals come into this game and these playoffs as the Metropolitan division champions, finishing the regular season with an overall record of 51-22-9 on the year.
Capitals Looking For First Series Win Since 2019-20
Dylan Strome leads the Capitals with 82 points including 29 goals and a team-high 53 assists while Alex Ovechkin has 73 points with 44 goals and 29 assists and Connor McMichael’s added 57 points with 26 goals and 31 assists. Aliaksei Protas has 66 points with 30 goals and 36 assists while Tom Wilson has 65 points and John Carlson has 51 points with Wilson logging 33 goals and 32 assists and Carlson adding 46 assists. Pierre-Luc Dubois also has 66 points with 46 assists of his own. Jakob Chychrun has 47 points with 20 goals and 27 assists as well on the year. In goal for Washington, Logan Thompson has gone 31-6-6 with a 2.49 GAA and a .910 save percentage while Charlie Lindgren is 20-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and an .896 save percentage this season.
Why the Washington Capitals will win
- The Capitals have won each of their last six night games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have lost 15 of their last 18 road games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Canadiens have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last three games following a home win.
- The home team has covered the puck line in seven of the Capitals’ last nine games.
Washington Capitals Player Prop Facts
- Rasmus Sandin has recorded an assist in each of the Capitals’ last five home games against Atlantic Division opponents.
- Alex Ovechkin has scored at least one goal in each of the Capitals’ last five games as favorites.
- Alex Ovechkin has recorded at least one point in each of his last 11 appearances against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Trevor van Riemsdyk has recorded two assists against the Canadiens this season – equal-most against any opponent.
Total Goals Facts
- Six of the Capitals’ last seven night games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Five of the Canadiens’ last six games following a win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals Prediction
I’m on the Capitals in game one. The Canadiens finished the season on a much stronger run than Washington did, but I think a lot of that was necessity for Montreal to secure their playoff spot while Washington has had the Metro locked up for a while. End of the day, I think the Capitals are the better team with one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL and I think Washington draws first blood here. Give me Washington.