In their first head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals collide at Capital One Arena. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, November 15, and you will be able to view this Eastern Conference matchup live on NBC Sports Washington.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals Odds
This matchup’s moneyline and Over/Under odds have not been posted by oddsmakers yet.
The Capitals are 14-6 straight up (SU) and have earned 6.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. That winning percentage, the league’s second-strongest so far this season, is an improvement compared to how the team performed during the 2018-19 season (48-34). Of its 20 games this season, 14 have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. The team is 5-4 SU at home this season.
Washington’s been able to convert on 22.9 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for 10th-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 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 past five outings total, and 3.6 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to defend opposition power plays for just 8.4 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Sporting a .903 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Braden Holtby (nine wins, five losses, and three OT losses) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Capitals this season. If they, however, choose to give him a breather, 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 be focal points for the Capitals. Carlson (30 points) has produced 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 notched a point in 14 games.
Montreal has earned 2.2 units for moneyline bettors this year and is currently 10-8 straight up (SU). Through 18 regular season matches, 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 the away team this season.
Montreal has converted on 20.7 percent of its power play chances 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 killed off 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 match ups total, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team’s been forced to defend 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 option in the net for Montreal. Price owns a 9-6-2 record, while registering a .916 save percentage and 2.65 goals against average this year.
Tomas Tatar (six goals, nine assists) and Jonathan Drouin (seven goals, eight assists) are the top point-getters for Montreal and will lead the attack for the visiting Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals Betting Picks
Free NHL Tip: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- For both of these teams, 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’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total.
- Montreal is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 2-1 in shootouts.
- Washington skaters have averaged 7.5 takeaways per game (ranked 16th overall).
- 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 overall).
