Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s the second of a back-to-back for the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday as they visit all-time goalscoring king Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, who are -160 on the NHL odds with a total of 6.5 goals.
Canadiens vs. Capitals NHL Betting Odds
It’s not out of the question that Tuesday is an Eastern Conference playoff preview, although not super-likely with Montreal and Washington in separate divisions. Both should be in the post-season, however.
Perhaps the bigger story Tuesday is this might be the last time the Canadiens see Alex Ovechkin on his home ice in D.C., with the 40-year-old all-time goalscoring king expected to retire after this season and without a contract. Some think he could go play a year or two in Russia. Ovi is up to 917 career goals and has torched Montreal in his career with 42 goals and 32 assists in 61 regular-season games.
This marks the second of three regular-season meetings between the clubs with Montreal hosting Washington in the finale on Feb. 28. On Nov. 20 at Bell Centre, the Canadiens were routed by the Capitals, 8-4. Ovechkin had his 33rd career hat trick to tie Brett Hull for fourth in NHL history and added an assist. Sam Montembeault started in net for the Habs but was pulled after allowing three goals on 10 shots. Jakub Dobes gave up four goals on 25 shots in relief. Charlie Lindgren was in net for Washington.
The Capitals are 6-4 in the past 10 meetings overall, and the over-under is 6-3-1.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal won for the sixth time in eight games Monday, 6-3 over free-falling Vancouver. Mike Matheson’s fourth goal of the season broke a 3-3 tie at 0:29 of the third. Juraj Slafkovsky’s 17th goal of the year just 37 seconds later essentially clinched it.
Alexandre Carrier was the No. 1 star with two goals, coming just 20 seconds apart in the second. He became the first Canadiens player to score twice in a 20-second span since Cole Caufield (0:08 on March 15, 2022). Carrier tied Bert Corbeau (0:20 on Dec. 25, 1919) for the second-fastest two goals by a defenseman in Canadiens history. Larry Robinson holds the record when he scored two in 19 seconds on March 22, 1980.
Montreal had each of its first four goals scored by defencemen, only fourth game in the past 40 years that the Canadiens have had as many in a game by blueliners. Ivan Demidov had three assists to become only the third Habs rookie in the past decade to record three assists in a game.
Jakub Dobes was in net Monday, meaning it will be Sam Montembeault for Tuesday. He is 4-2-0 with a 2.81 GAA and .896 SV on the road. Montreal is 3-10 in its past 13 vs. Metro Division foes.
Washington Capitals
Washington has been treading water for weeks and hasn’t won back-to-back games since early December. Can’t do that here, either, as it was upset 3-2 in Nashville on Sunday. Alex Ovechkin (20th of season) and Ethen Frank (eighth) had the Caps’ goals.
Ovechkin recorded his 21st career 20-goal season to pass Ron Francis (20) for the second most in NHL history behind Gordie Howe (22). He also became the NHL’s third player age 40 or older with 20 goals in 46 games or fewer, following Howe and Johnny Bucyk. Ovechkin is now six points shy of joining Wayne Gretzky (1,016) as the only players to reach 1,000 career goals in the regular season and playoffs combined.
Ovechkin also had a power play assist and has 614 career power play points to pass Phil Housley (612) for the ninth most in NHL history. Joe Sakic is up next with 631.
Washington is without one key player in Tom Wilson (42 points), who was recently put on IR. Centre Justin Sourdif (19 points) left Sunday’s game and blueliner Jakob Chychrun (32 points) missed with an illness.
Should be Logan Thompson in net Tuesday, and the Calgary native is 9-6-3 at home with a 2.24 GAA and .915 SV. The Under is 4-1 in Washington’s past five at home vs. Montreal.
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