Read our Capitals vs Canadiens pick and preview for this NHL regular season game in Montreal. Check out who we like to win and cover the puck line in this NHL matchup.
- The Capitals come in at 18-6-2.
- Washington are currently 1st in assists this season..
- The Capitals are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Hurricanes.
- The Canadiens sit at 10-13-3.
- In terms of giveaways, the Canadiens are currently 7th in the league.
- The Canadiens are looking to bounce back from a loss to the Penguins.
Capitals vs Canadiens Preview
Don't miss out on the NHL showdown between the Capitals and Canadiens. The game is starting at 7:00 ET on ESPN+, and it's hosted by the Canadiens at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. Get ready to place your bets! The Capitals are favored by -1.5 in this Eastern conference contest against the Canadiens. The game's over/under currently sits at 6 goals.
Capitals vs. Canadiens Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NHL
- Teams: Washington Capitals at Montreal Canadiens
- Where: Montreal at Bell Centre
- Date: Saturday, December 7th
- Betting Odds WAS -1.5, WAS -148 | MON +126 O/U 6
Capitals Preview: Does Washington Have What it Takes to Win as Road Favorites?
With a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes, the Capitals now sit at 18-6-2 for the season. Washington’s defense struggled, allowing 44 shots on goal, and their offense went scoreless after the first period.
Going into the game, the total was set at 6 goals, and the combined score matched that number. The Capitals, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover. Washington initially led 2-1, but the Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals.
Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season on a power play, while Brandon Duhaime followed with his 2nd goal, as the Capitals scored twice in the first period. Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist of the season, and Dylan Strome added his 13th assist on Ovechkin’s goal.
Washington managed 21 shots on goal but struggled with 15 giveaways. After their two early goals, the Capitals were unable to find the net in the second and third periods.
Defensively, the Capitals gave up the first goal and three more after taking a 2-1 lead. They allowed two goals in the 2nd period and one more in the 3rd. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the defense allowed 44 shots on goal. The Capitals also had 16 blocks and 2 takeaways.
Canadiens Preview: Are the Canadiens Ready for a Home Win?
Montreal’s latest game was a 3-1 road loss to the Penguins, dropping their record to 10-13-3. The Canadiens were underdogs on the puck line, and the total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the teams combined for just 4.
All of the scoring came after the 4:03 mark in the first period, with Montreal’s only goal coming from Christian Dvorak at 14:28 in the third. The Penguins sealed the win with an empty-netter at 19:15 in the final period.
Christian Dvorak netted his first goal of the season for the Canadiens, who took 26 shots on goal but only scored once in a 3-1 loss to the Penguins. Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his 7th assist, while Emil Heineman added his first of the year.
Montreal was held scoreless until Dvorak's goal, which came 5:32 into the third period. The Canadiens struggled with 20 giveaways in the game.
Montreal's defense struggled early, giving up the first two goals to Pittsburgh—one at 15:57 in the first period and another at 18:40 in the second. The Canadiens closed the gap to 2-1 in the third, but a late empty-netter sealed the game for the Penguins. Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the defense added 4 takeaways and 28 hits.
Capitals vs Canadiens Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- Across the Capitals last ten road games, the team averaged 4 goals per game while allowing 2. Their record vs the puck line in these contests was 8-2, while going 8-2 straight-up.
- Montreal has played well in their previous five home games, going 3-2 straight up. In this stretch, they averaged 2 goals per game while allowing 2. The team also performed well vs the puck line at 4-1.
- As the betting underdog, the Canadiens have an puck line mark of just 7-3 in their last ten games. Montreal posted a straight up mark of 5-5 in these matchups.
- Spanning across their last three games as the betting favorite, the Capitals have gone 0-3 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 1-2.
Bet on the Capitals vs Canadiens Game
Use the visual below to click on the odds you want to bet. This will take you to the sportsbook of your choice allowing you to sign up and make your bet
Capitals vs Canadiens Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Pick: OVER 6 Goals
- Bet this NHL Game at BetMGM| DraftKings | Fanduel | BetRivers
