The Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals (36-11-8) head to PPG Paints Arena for a crucial Metropolitan Division showdown against the Pittsburgh Penguins (23-25-9) on Saturday afternoon.
The Capitals, powered by Alex Ovechkin's 26 goals this season and Logan Thompson's stellar 2.23 goals-against average, have established themselves as one of the NHL's most formidable teams, ranking third in scoring and fourth in defense.
Pittsburgh, despite their historical success, finds themselves in unfamiliar territory, sitting seventh in the Metropolitan Division and struggling to maintain consistency, having scored no more than three goals in their last eight games.
The season series between these longtime rivals stands deadlocked at one win apiece, with both previous meetings taking place in Washington.
While the Capitals appear to have the upper hand with their impressive 19-7-2 road record, the potential return of Sidney Crosby could provide the spark the Penguins desperately need to turn their season around.
This Metropolitan Division matchup promises to be an intriguing battle between a team riding high and another fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, with significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps a 56% chance of defeating the Pens.
Pre-game probabilities
Pittsburgh Penguins
Moneyline
Win %
44%
56%
Washington Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins: 44% win probability
- Poor defensive performance (201 goals against, 3rd worst in Eastern Conference)
- Inconsistent form (23-25 record, 14th in Eastern Conference)
- Struggling offense (164 goals scored, below conference average)
Washington Capitals: 56% win probability
- League-leading offense (196 goals for, highest in Eastern Conference)
- Strong defensive record (140 goals against, 2nd best in Eastern Conference)
- Dominant overall record (36-11, best win-loss ratio in East)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts.
Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Washington Capitals | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline |
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals preview
The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins are set to face off in a crucial Metropolitan Division matchup this Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, with both teams looking to make significant statements as they emerge from the break.
The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals (36-11-8) have been dominant this season, sitting atop the Metropolitan Division with 80 points and showcasing their offensive prowess with 3.56 goals per game, good for third in the NHL.
Washington's success has been anchored by captain Alex Ovechkin's 26 goals and an impressive defensive unit that's allowing just 2.49 goals per game, while netminder Logan Thompson has been outstanding with a 24-7 record and 2.23 goals-against average.
The Penguins (23-25-9), meanwhile, find themselves in unfamiliar territory, sitting seventh in the division and struggling to maintain consistency in what has been a challenging season.
Pittsburgh's defensive woes have been particularly concerning, as they currently rank last in the NHL in goals allowed (3.44 per game), while their offense has failed to score more than three goals in any of their last eight contests.
The potential absence of veteran center Sidney Crosby, who is listed as day-to-day after the 4-Nations tournament, could further complicate matters for the Penguins, though Rickard Rakell has been a bright spot with 25 goals this season.
The season series between these long-time rivals stands even at one game apiece, with both previous meetings taking place in Washington, adding extra intrigue to this first matchup in Pittsburgh.
With the Capitals' balanced attack featuring seven players with 13 or more goals, and the Penguins desperately fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, this afternoon clash promises to be an intense battle between two teams heading in opposite directions.
Given the Capitals' superior form and the Penguins' defensive struggles, Washington appears poised to extend their division lead, though Pittsburgh's seventh-ranked power play could keep things interesting if they can draw penalties.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals form
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals head to head
Pittsburgh Penguins
50%
Washington Capitals
50%
Jan 19, 2025
Washington Capitals
4 : 1
Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 9, 2024
Washington Capitals
2 : 4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Apr 4, 2024
Washington Capitals
1 : 4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 8, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
0 : 6
Washington Capitals
Jan 3, 2024
Pittsburgh Penguins
3 : 4
Washington Capitals
Oct 13, 2023
Washington Capitals
0 : 4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Share this post
Related
