Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens Game 3 Prediction, Odds
The two first games in the series have come down to the wire and having the loudest fans in the league behind them may be just what the Habs need to get over the hump.
Despite their 2-0 lead, the Caps have given the Canadiens a chance in each game, making the matchup much closer than your typical 1 versus 8.
The Capitals are the -129 favourite to win Game 3, according to the NHL odds, with the game total opening at 5.5 goals. The Bell Centre in Downtown Montreal will be electric on Friday, with puck drop at 7:00 PM ET.
Capitals vs. Habs Game 3 Betting Playoff Odds
The Capitals have moved to a heavy -1430 favourite to move on, with the Canadiens dropping down to +800. They say you are never truly in trouble until you lose in your barn, and the Canadiens have been very good at home this season (23-12-6). With a do-or-die Game 3 in the Bell Centre, expect some extra juice from the Habs. A Caps sweep is the most likely outcome right now, paying out +180.
With slow starts in both games, there has been just a single goal scored in the first period so far. The first period UNDER for both teams has a solid payout on our NHL Specials Board. Each of their past four matchups this season, including playoffs, have gone to the UNDER, and with the goaltending matchup we have seen to this point, it looks like there is more to come. The OVER/UNDER on saves for Sam Montembeault is set at 24.5, and Logan Thompson is set at 23.5. Both tenders have made more saves than that in both games so far.
Washington Capitals
Logan Thompson was the story in Game 2, shutting down the Canadiens’ final push to tie it, ending the game with 26 saves. Thompson has only allowed three goals in the series, continuing his impressive run from the regular season.
After going down 1-0 early in the second, Connor McMichael evened things up with his first career playoff goal, bouncing it off a Habs defender and in. Dylan Strome gave Washington the lead 60 seconds later, which would stand as the game winner. McMichael would seal the deal with an empty-net marker with just two seconds on the clock.
After stealing the show in Game 1, Alex Ovechkin was quiet in Game 2, registering just two shots on goal. He remains the favourite to lead the series in scoring at +145 after potting two in the opener.
The Caps could get a boost to their scoring if fellow Russian Aliaksei Protas is able to suit up for Game 3. The Winger skated in a regular jersey in practice, looking like he could return in this series.
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal opened the scoring in Game 2, taking a lead for the first time in the series. The lead was short-lived, as the Capitals would answer just 2:31 later to tie things up in the second period. Christian Dvorak was the lone goal scorer for the Habs in the game, scoring his third career postseason marker.
Sam Montembeault was brilliant yet again on Wednesday, stopping 29 of 31. He has a .921 save percentage in the series, looking like a veteran despite this being his first run in the postseason.
The Canadiens’ big offseason pickup up Patrick Laine, has been a disappointment so far in the playoffs. After being a -2 in Game 1. He struggled again in the second game, forcing head coach Martin St. Louis to sit him on the bench for the entire third period.
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