The red-hot Washington Capitals welcome the floundering Chicago Blackhawks to Capital One Arena Friday night in what looks like a serious mismatch on paper.
While Alex Ovechkin's squad leads the Metropolitan Division with an impressive 48-18-9 record and a potent offense averaging 3.6 goals per game, Chicago limps in with just one win in their last ten games and the second-worst record in the Western Conference.
The goaltending battle tells much of the story with Washington's Logan Thompson posting stellar numbers (.910 save percentage) compared to Chicago's struggling Arvid Soderblom (.897) as the Capitals face a Blackhawks team desperate to salvage some pride in this home team vs away team showdown.
Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks prediction: who will win?
For today's Washington Capitals vs Chicago Blackhawks matchup, our predictive model gives the Caps a 82.5% chance of defeating the Hawks.
Pre-game probabilities
Washington Capitals
Moneyline
Win %
82.5%
17.5%
Chicago Blackhawks
Washington Capitals: 82.5% win probability
- League-leading points total (105 points in 75 games)
- Exceptional offensive production (271 goals scored, 2nd highest in the league)
- Dominant home record (48 wins leads the Eastern Conference)
Chicago Blackhawks: 17.5% win probability
- Poor overall record (21-44-0, 15th in Western Conference)
- Struggling defense (272 goals against, 2nd worst in the West)
- Terrible recent form (LLLLW, four straight losses before a single win)
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.
| Washington Capitals | Chicago Blackhawks | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
Best NHL sportsbook promos
Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks preview
The free-falling Chicago Blackhawks limp into Capital One Arena tomorrow night to face a Washington Capitals squad that's been absolutely dominant this season—talk about a mismatch on paper.
While Chicago's phenom Connor Bedard has managed to compile impressive numbers despite the team's struggles, the Hawks' defensive woes (allowing 3.59 goals per game) have been their undoing all season.
Washington's balanced attack, led by the ageless Alexander Ovechkin alongside Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, has them sitting pretty atop the Metropolitan Division with a lethal offense that averages 3.60 goals per night.
The goaltending battle couldn't be more lopsided, with Capitals' netminder Logan Thompson (.910 save percentage) outshining Chicago's struggling Arvid Soderblom, who's posted a disappointing .897 save percentage this year.
I'm keeping an eye on John Carlson, who's been a force on both ends for Washington, contributing offensively from the blue line while anchoring a stingy defense that surrenders just 2.68 goals per game.
The Blackhawks' sole bright spot? Their power play has been surprisingly effective, converting at a 24.57% clip—though that might not matter much against Washington's disciplined penalty kill.
Look for the Capitals' depth to overwhelm Chicago, with secondary scoring from guys like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson creating matchup nightmares for a Hawks team that's managed just four goals in their last two outings.
If you're a Chicago fan heading to this one, maybe bring a good book—it could get ugly fast for a team that's managed just one win in their last ten games.
Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks form
Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks head to head
Washington Capitals
67%
Chicago Blackhawks
33%
Dec 18, 2024
Chicago Blackhawks
3 : 2
Washington Capitals
Mar 10, 2024
Washington Capitals
4 : 1
Chicago Blackhawks
Dec 11, 2023
Chicago Blackhawks
2 : 4
Washington Capitals
Mar 23, 2023
Washington Capitals
6 : 1
Chicago Blackhawks
Dec 14, 2022
Chicago Blackhawks
3 : 7
Washington Capitals
Dec 16, 2021
Chicago Blackhawks
5 : 4
Washington Capitals
Share this post
Related
