Canadiens vs. Capitals Picks and Prediction – 4/23/2025

Montreal Canadiens (30-38-8) vs. Washington Capitals (41-32-3)
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
TV: ESPN

Previous Game:

  • Game 1 Result: Washington 3 – Montreal 2 (OT)

Head-to-Head:

Washington holds the early edge in the series after a thrilling overtime win in Game 1. They’ve now won 4 of their last 5 against Montreal, including 8 of their last 10 home games overall.

Montreal Canadiens Breakdown:

Montreal has dropped 4 of their last 5 and continues to struggle offensively, averaging just 2.7 goals on 23.2 shots per game over their last 10. Defensively, they’ve been more stable, allowing 2.1 goals on 29.8 shots, but their offensive inconsistency and poor road record (losses in 8 of their last 10 away games) are major concerns.

Key Players:

  • Nick Suzuki: 13 points (8 G, 5 A) last 10 games

  • Lane Hutson: 9 points (1 G, 8 A) in the same span

Goaltender Sam Montembeault has held his own recently with a 2.22 GAA and a .920 SV%, but he’ll need to be even sharper if the Habs want to avoid falling into a 2-0 series hole.

Washington Capitals Breakdown:

Washington is coming in with confidence after their Game 1 win and have won 6 of their last 10 games against Montreal. They’ve been solid at home and come into this one averaging 2.4 goals on 28.0 shots over their last 10, but more importantly, they're allowing just 3.8 goals per game and capitalizing on special teams with a 21.3% powerplay efficiency.

Key Players:

  • Dylan Strome: 15 points (6 G, 9 A) in his last 10

  • Alex Ovechkin: 13 points (9 G, 4 A), including 2 goals in Game 1

Goaltender Logan Thompson posted a strong performance in Game 1 with a .943 SV%, helping Washington steal the win.

Betting Trends:

Montreal Canadiens:

  • 1-4 SU in last 5

  • Lost 8 of last 10 road games

  • UNDER in 7 of last 10 games

Washington Capitals:

  • 8-2 last 10 home games

  • OVER in 13 of last 20 vs. Montreal

Exact Score Prediction:

Washington Capitals 4 – Montreal Canadiens 2

Our Best Bet:

Washington Capitals ML (-190)

This pick is all about form, momentum, and home-ice advantage. Washington has been the more consistent team and showed poise in closing out Game 1 under pressure. With Ovechkin heating up and the Caps dominating recent matchups against the Habs—especially at home—there’s value in backing them to take a 2-0 lead. Montreal's offensive struggles combined with a shaky road record make it tough to trust them here.

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