In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals meet at Capital One Arena. This Eastern Conference matchup will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 15 and it’ll air live on NBC Sports Washington.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals Odds
Earning 6.3 units for moneyline bettors, the Capitals are 14-6 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked second in the league in this young season, is an improvement over the 48-34 record from the 2018-19 season campaign. Among the team’s 20 games this season, 14 have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. The team’s 5-4 SU at home this season.
Washington has connected on 22.9 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 84.9 percent of all penalties.
Washington, as a collective unit, has been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, 3.8 per game over its last five contests total, and 3.6 per game over its last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.4 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Sporting a .903 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Braden Holtby (9-5-3) has been the primary goalkeeper for the Capitals this year. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to rest him, however, the team might turn to Ilya Samsonov (5-2-2 record, .915 save percentage, 2.45 goals against average).
John Carlson and Alex Ovechkin will each spearhead the attack for the Capitals. Carlson (30 points) has put up eight goals and 22 assists and has recorded multiple points 10 times this year. Ovechkin has 13 goals and 10 assists to his name and has recorded a point in 14 games.
Over on the other bench, Montreal is 10-8 straight up (SU) and has earned 2.2 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 18 regular season contests, nine of its games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under the total and just one has pushed. Montreal’s 4-5 SU as a road team this season.
Montreal has converted on 20.7 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully defended 73.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Montreal’s skaters have been penalized only 3.2 times per game this season, 3.6 per game over their last five outings total, and 3.6 per game over their last five games as the visiting team. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Carey Price (29.1 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Montreal. Price owns a 9-6-2 record, and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Canadiens will be Tomas Tatar (six goals, nine assists) and Jonathan Drouin (seven goals, eight assists).
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals Free Picks
Free Prediction: Capitals, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five matchups.
The Canadiens are 5-3 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 8-5 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
Washington is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Montreal is 2-1 in shootouts.
Washington has created 7.5 takeaways per game (ranked 16th in the league).
Montreal skaters have created 5.4 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 6.7 takeaways per game (ranked 23rd).
