The Washington Capitals (10-8-2) visit the Montreal Canadiens (10-6-3) tonight at the Bell Centre in a matchup between two playoff-position teams trending in opposite directions
Washington enters the night with 22 points and coming off its most complete offensive performance of the season, a 7–4 win over Edmonton that featured early scoring bursts, strong transition play, and multi-point nights from several forwards.
More importantly, the Capitals continue to lean on one of the league’s stingiest defensive structures, allowing just 2.55 goals per game — the fifth-best mark in the NHL — and holding opponents to 26.5 shots per night.
Logan Thompson has been the backbone of that success, entering the game with an 8-5-1 record, a 1.85 GAA, and a .920 save percentage, numbers that rank at or near the top of the league. His consistency has carried an offense that still sits at a modest 3.00 goals per game despite its recent outburst.
Montreal arrives with 23 points but on a four-game slide, a stretch defined by defensive breakdowns and volatile goaltending. Their most recent outing was a 4–3 shootout loss to Columbus in which they had to dig out of multiple deficits just to force overtime.
While the Canadiens remain one of the NHL’s more dangerous even-strength scoring teams at 3.32 goals per game and feature high-end production from Nick Suzuki (21 points), Cole Caufield (13 goals), and Lane Hutson (16 points), they continue to give up chances in volume.
Their 3.37 goals-against average reflects those issues, and the goaltending split underscores the frustration: Samuel Montembeault has struggled with a 3.56 GAA and an .858 save percentage, while Jakub Dobes (2.71, .898) has been steadier but not fully reliable.
Montreal’s special teams offer a mixed picture, with a power play converting at 21.4 percent but a penalty kill sitting at 78.5 percent and trending downward in recent games.
Recent form makes the gap clearer. Washington has won three of its last five, including victories over Carolina, Los Angeles, and Edmonton, and pushed New Jersey to a shootout. Montreal, meanwhile, has dropped four straight, including a 7–0 loss to Dallas and a 5–1 defeat to the Kings.
Prediction
Expect a tightly contested affair with momentum swings. Given Washington’s recent offensive uptick and Montreal’s skid, the edge slightly tilts toward the Capitals — especially if they carry over their recent surge.
Projected Final Score: Capitals 4, Canadiens 3
How to Watch Capitals vs. Canadiens
Puck drop for the game between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens is scheduled for 7:00 PM Eastern at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.
The game airs live locally on Monumental Sports Network. Out-of-market viewers can stream the game on ESPN+.
You can watch the game free on ESPN+ by starting a trial with DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV, all of which include ESPN+.
After signing up, activate your ESPN plan and link it to your MyDisney login. If you already have Hulu + Live TV, you’ll automatically get access through that account. Remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t plan to keep the service.
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
TV: Monumental Sports Network
Streaming: ESPN+