The Washington Capitals will host the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. Washington enters the new campaign as one of the stronger contenders in the East, while Boston seeks to rebound from a disappointing 2024-25 season. Before the puck drops in Washington, you can find my Bruins vs Capitals prediction for this contest below.
Our Bruins vs Capitals Pick
- Pick: Capitals −1.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Boston Bruins @ Washington Capitals
- Date & Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 7:30 PM ET
- Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
- Broadcast: TNT
Bruins vs Capitals Odds
| Moneyline | Puckline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Capitals −190 / Bruins +160 | Capitals −1.5 (+135) | Bruins +1.5 (−160) | Over/Under 5.5 |
Key Storylines
Recent form
Washington enters this season with high expectations after a very strong 2024-25 season. They went 51-22-9 a season ago but were cut down in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs. Boston concluded with a subpar record and faced both scoring and defensive issues. Both teams will come out with something to prove here.
Goaltending
Washington’s goaltending situation is the same as we saw last season. Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson split the goaltending duties pretty evenly last season and should do so again this year. Boston, leaned on Jeremy Swayman in net last season as a stabilizing presence, though he was frequently under siege when the team’s depth was lacking. Swayman will be the featured goaltender for the Bruins this season as well, starting with this opener.
Key skaters
Alexander Ovechkin remains a game-changing presence for Washington after setting the record for career goals scored last year. His scoring and power-play threat demand constant attention. Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois provide secondary scoring, and Washington’s deeper forward group offers more balance than that of the Bruins.
David Pastrňák is the star for Boston and must deliver offensively. The Bruins’ supporting cast, however, is thinner than that of Washington. They’ll need contributions from lower lines and disciplined defense to hang around in this game.
Best Player Props
| Player | Stat Type | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Ovechkin | Goals | Over 0.5 |
| Dylan Strome | Assists | Over 1.5 |
| David Pastrňák | Points | Over 1.5 |
Bruins vs Capitals Model Projection
Score Projection: Capitals 4 – Bruins 2
Win Probability: Capitals 62%, Bruins 38%
Final Thoughts
The Capitals come into this season with higher expectations than the Bruins do. While Boston had a couple of historically good seasons a few years ago, last season was a sign that their core is no longer what it used to be. Meanwhile, the Caps have a seemingly ageless Ovechkin and more depth behind him to get the job done on a regular basis.
In this game, I will go with the Capitals to win and cover the puckline at home. They should win the battle of the lower lines in this contest. The superior depth of Washington will be the difference maker and the Caps should win this contest by two goals.
