The Anaheim Ducks (21-17-3) and Washington Capitals (21-15-6) tangle Monday in Washington, D.C. The opening puck drop at Capital One Arena will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Ducks vs. Capitals odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: Anaheim leads 1-0 with 4-3 shootout win at home Dec. 5.
The Ducks are opening a 4-game Eastern time-zone road swing with this contest in D.C. Anaheim last played Friday at home, dropping a 5-2 (Over 6.5) game against the -130 Minnesota Wild. On Monday, the Ducks will be looking to snap a 5-game losing skid (0-4-1).
The Capitals last played Saturday, when they lost to the +210 Chicago Blackhawks in a 3-2 (Under 5.5) shootout. Washington has lost 3 of its last 4 and is just 2-4-2 across its last 8 games.
Ducks at Capitals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Ducks +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Capitals -145 (bet $145 to win $100)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Ducks +1.5 (-190) | Capitals -1.5 (+155)Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -102 | U: -118)Ducks at Capitals projected goalies
Lukas Dostal (13-10-2, 3.22 GAA, .887 SV%) vs. Logan Thompson (15-11-4, 2.37 GAA, .915 SV%)
Dostal last played Friday, and he allowed 5 goals while making 29 saves against Minnesota. The 25-year-old got off to a solid start this season, but he has struggled mightily since. He owns an .861 SV% since Nov. 13.
Thompson stopped 31 of 33 pucks in the Saturday tilt against the Blackhawks. He has struggled of late, clocking an .880 SV% since Dec. 20, but in goals saved above average his 13.9 figure ranks second in the NHL.
Ducks at Capitals picks and predictionsPrediction
Capitals 4, Ducks 3
The Ducks are just 2-7-2 over their last 11 games and have allowed 4.36 goals per game over that stretch. Across those 11 games, the Anaheim power play has gone just 3 of 28 (10.7%). On the road, the Ducks have lost 3 of their last 4.
Washington excels in generating good shots from the slot in 5-on-5 play. The Caps don’t have a great power play, but it is an improved one of late. Overall, the home club in this one has power-ranking numbers that spell more of the team that went 9-1-0 with a plus-24 goal differential from Nov. 17-Dec. 3 than what the Caps have done of late.
Anaheim topped Washington 4-3 in a Dec. 5 shootout in Southern California, but the Capitals had won 5 straight against the Ducks before that.
There is value on WASHINGTON (-145).
No interest; PASS.
The Over has hit in 4 straight Anaheim games and in 7 of the club’s last 8. And the Over is 5-1 across Washington’s last 6 games.
The Ducks are among the leakiest NHL clubs in even-strength defense. And overall, their 3.56 goals allowed per game rank 32nd in the league.
The Caps have had tremendous goaltending, but have perhaps lived too dangerously in yielding more high-danger looks than their goals-allowed numbers would suggest.
Both sides have seen an uptick in penalty minutes over recent weeks, so the power plays may get more involved in this one. And the recent-weeks goaltending for both sides has not been great.
The OVER 6.5 (-102) is the value side here.
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