Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, NHL Odds

Nik Kowalski | Updated Jan 18, 2025

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Alex Ovechkin’s first-place Capitals battle Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night in the latest battle between two legends of the game.

Pittsburgh
23-25-4-5
AT
January 18, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena
Washington
36-11-5-3
Puckline +1.5 -155
Moneyline +155
Over / Under o +6
Matchup Odds
Puckline -1.5 +130
Moneyline -190
Over / Under u +6
Matchup Odds

Ovechkin’s been on a rampant tear this season, now at 874 career goals. With 21 goals in 28 games this season, Ovechkin is scoring .72 goals per game which would have him on pace to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer during this season. Ironically, Washington may have bigger aspirations than chasing Ovi’s goal record. At 30-10-5, Washington could move into first in the NHL with a win on Saturday. Pittsburgh sits three points outside the East’s final Wild-Card spot. 

Puck drop at Capital One Arena gets going at 7 p.m. EST with the Capitals a -225 moneyline favourite on home ice and the total at six on the NHL odds.

Penguins vs. Capitals NHL Betting Odds

Over a current three-game win streak, Washington’s allowed one total goal. Logan Thompson has been an absolute beast in net for the Caps, posting back-to-back shutouts and a 5-0-1 record with a .944 save percentage in the month of January. And this is why five straight Washington contests have finished under the total. Five of the last six Penguins-Capitals meetings played in Washington have finished under the total too.

Pittsburgh is 7-10-5 on the road this season and have a single win to show for in their last six road outings. Washington enters the weekend having won seven of their last nine home outings. The Penguins did come out on top in these teams’ first meeting this season, a 4-2 result in Pittsburgh’s favour back on November 8.

Pittsburgh Penguins

A 5-2 win at Buffalo last night snapped a three-game skid for the Penguins. The win featured some history too as Alex Nedeljkovic became the first goalie in NHL history to have a goal and an assist. Nedeljkovic is the 16th goalie in NHL history to score a goal. Ironically, goaltending has been the primary issue in Pittsburgh as of late — not scoring. Pittsburgh allowed 14 goals over that three-game skid earlier in the week. And now on a back-to-back, you can expect Joel Blomqvist to start in net on Saturday and Nedeljkovic to get the night off.

With a goal last night, Rickard Rakell potted his sixth tally in the month of January. Rakell’s 23 goals lead Pittsburgh, with Bryan Rust not far behind with 18. The 31-year-old Rakell is on pace to break his career high of 34 goals set back in 2017–18, and the same for the 32-year-old Rust who has a career-best 27 goals back in 2019–20. 

Washington Capitals

Logan Thompson is starting to steal a little spotlight from Alex Ovechkin. Okay maybe not from the national landscape, but the puck-knowers are starting to appreciate Thompson’s 2024–25 campaign in net. Coming over from Vegas in the off-season, Thompson is 20-2-3 on the season. His career-high 25 wins last season is in all likelihood going to get smashed, as is his career-best .915 save percentage. Thompson’s .924 save percentage this season is fourth in the NHL.

With an overtime winner in Ottawa on Thursday, Alex Ovechkin has officially scored on the most goalies in NHL history with 179. Outside of Thompson and Ovechkin, Aliaksei Protas is a name to keep an eye on Saturday. Protas is second on Washington with 36 points, but pointless in four straight games. He’s centring Washington’s top line that includes Ovi.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Penguins vs. Capitals?

NHL Predictions
SportsInteraction
  • PIT
  • +155 -190
  • WAS
Matchup NHL Odds