The Minnesota Wild face a tough test against the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin just six goals shy of making NHL history as he chases the all-time scoring record.
While the Capitals enter on a tear with a 4-1 record in their last five games, the Wild's depleted roster continues to feel the absence of star forward Kirill Kaprizov and center Joel Eriksson Ek as they fight to maintain their wildcard position.
The home team Wild, who claimed a 4-3 shootout victory in their only meeting this season with the away team Capitals, will need another stellar performance from netminder Filip Gustavsson and his impressive .918 save percentage to contain Washington's fourth-ranked offense.
Minnesota Wild vs. Washington Capitals prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Minnesota Wild vs Washington Capitals matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps a 65% chance of defeating the Wild.
Pre-game probabilities
Washington Capitals
Moneyline
Win %
65%
35%
Minnesota Wild
Washington Capitals: 65% win probability
- League-leading points total (103 points in 71 games)
- Elite offensive production (259 goals scored, highest in Eastern Conference)
- Strong recent momentum (4-1-0 in last five games)
Minnesota Wild: 35% win probability
- Struggling offense (196 goals scored, 3rd lowest among playoff contenders)
- Negative goal differential (-8, allowing 204 while scoring 196)
- Lower points percentage (85 points in 72 games vs Capitals' 103 in 71)
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..
| Minnesota Wild | Washington Capitals | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
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Minnesota Wild vs. Washington Capitals preview
The red-hot Washington Capitals roll into the Xcel Energy Center looking to extend their impressive run, though they'll face a Wild team that's proven they can go toe-to-toe with the league's best.
Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of the all-time scoring record adds extra spice to this matchup - he's just six goals shy and has been lighting it up with six tallies this month alone.
The Wild's home ice advantage could be crucial, but they're still dealing with the absence of superstar Kirill Kaprizov and key center Joel Ericsson Ek, which has put extra pressure on Matt Boldy to carry the offensive load.
Dylan Strome's breakout season for the Caps has been something else - he's quietly put together 68 points and seems to find another gear with each passing game.
Minnesota's Filip Gustavsson has been a wall between the pipes with a stellar .918 save percentage, though he'll have his hands full against a Capitals offense that's been averaging 3.6 goals per game.
The Wild grabbed a 4-3 shootout win in their previous meeting this season, but both teams have evolved significantly since then.
Keep an eye on Wild forward Marcus Rossi, who despite a quiet March has racked up 54 points this season and could be due for a breakthrough performance.
With Washington's high-powered offense meeting Minnesota's stingy defense (allowing just 2.8 goals per game), this cross-conference clash has all the makings of a nail-biter.
Minnesota Wild vs. Washington Capitals form
Minnesota Wild vs. Washington Capitals head to head
Minnesota Wild
83%
Washington Capitals
17%
Jan 3, 2025
Washington Capitals
3 : 4
Minnesota Wild
Jan 24, 2024
Minnesota Wild
5 : 3
Washington Capitals
Oct 27, 2023
Washington Capitals
3 : 2
Minnesota Wild
Mar 19, 2023
Minnesota Wild
5 : 3
Washington Capitals
Jan 18, 2023
Washington Capitals
2 : 4
Minnesota Wild
Apr 3, 2022
Washington Capitals
1 : 5
Minnesota Wild
