The Montreal Canadiens (15-18-3) travel to meet the Washington Capitals (20-13-5) at Capital One Arena Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Canadiens vs. Capitals odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Canadiens play the 6th contest of a 7-game road trip in D.C., and Montreal is looking to rebound from a 7-2 pounding in Florida Thursday. The Habs kicked off the trip with a 3-2 OT win in Arizona, and they’re 0-3-1 with a total of 6 goals scored in 4 games since.
The Capitals were surprised at home by the Ottawa Senators last time out, falling 4-3 in OT Thursday. That snapped a 5-game winning streak. Washington has scored 3 or more goals in each of the past 6 games, and 11 of the past 12 outings.
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Canadiens at Capitals odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Canadiens +235 (bet $100 to win $235) | Capitals -280 (bet $280 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Canadiens +1.5 (-110) | Capitals -1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +110 | U: -130)
Canadiens at Capitals projected goalies
Jake Allen (9-14-1, 3.29 GAA, .900 SV%) vs. Darcy Kuemper (10-9-3, 2.47 GAA, .920 SV%, 3 SO)
Allen is on a 5-start winless skid, last winning in a 2-1 shootout against the visiting Calgary Flames Dec. 12. He has allowed 3 or more goals in 4 of his past 5 outings, going 0-4-1. His last win on the road was in Seattle Dec. 6.
Kuemper allowed 4 goals on 45 shots last time out against the Senators, a 4-3 loss in OT. Despite the OTL, he is 2-0-2 with a 2.36 GAA and .928 SV% with a shutout in 5 December starts.
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Canadiens at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Capitals 5, Canadiens 2
Moneyline
The Capitals (-280) will cost you nearly 3 times your potential return if you want to bet them straight up. While Washington should be able to win against road-weary Montreal in this matinee game, it’s too much risk for not enough reward.
PASS.
Puck line/Against the spread
The CAPITALS -1.5 (-110) is a much better value on the puck line. In 7 of Washington’s past 9 wins, it has won by 2 or more goals. So if you like the Caps to win, you should like them to cover the puck line, especially at home.
On the flip side, the Canadiens +1.5 (-110) have failed to cover the puck line in each of the past 3 games on this trip as an underdog.
Over/Under
OVER 6.5 (+110) is worth a roll of the dice at plus-money.
The Under is 5-1-1 in the past 7 games on the road for the Habs, although the Under did cash last time out in Florida.
The Over is also 5-1-1 in the past 7 meetings in this series. And for the Caps, the Over is 5-1-1 in the past 7 against the Atlantic Division, while going 5-1 in the past 6 when playing on a day of rest.
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