Montréal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals Picks and Predictions April 25th 2025

Montréal Canadiens vs Washington Capitals April 25th 2025

Betting on today’s Capitals and Canadiens game? Catch the action at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC, as the Canadiens hosts this showdown at 7:00 ET on TNT. The Capitals are favored by -1.5 in a Eastern conference showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 5.5 goals.

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Washington vs. Montreal Key Information

• Teams: Capitals at Canadiens
• Where: Bell Centre Montreal
• Date: Friday, April 25th
• Betting Odds WAS -120 | MON +102 O/U 5.5

The Capitals Can Win If…

Washington fell to 51-22-9 after a 4-2 road loss to the Hurricanes. The Capitals trailed early, but Alex Ovechkin tied it up with a goal at 19:16 in the first period, followed by a goal from Brandon Duhaime at 19:49 to give them the lead. However, the Hurricanes responded with three unanswered goals, including one at 19:51 in the third period.

The total was set at 6 goals, and the combined score hit exactly that number. Washington, as underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. The Capitals’ defense struggled, allowing 44 shots on goal, while their offense managed just 21 shots.

Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season on a power play, while Brandon Duhaime added his 2nd goal in the Capitals’ 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes. Washington took 21 shots on goal and recorded 15 giveaways.

Ovechkin’s goal came at the 19:16 mark of the first period, followed by Duhaime’s at 19:49. Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist of the season, and Dylan Strome added his 13th assist on Ovechkin’s goal.

Defensively, the Capitals struggled after taking a 2-1 lead, allowing three unanswered goals to the Hurricanes—two in the second period and one in the third. Despite making 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, goalie Charlie Lindgren took the loss. Washington’s defense also finished with 2 takeaways and 20 hits.

• Spanning across their last three games, Washington have gone 2-1. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is less impressive at 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 1-2.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Washington has a record of 5-5. Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 5-5 over-under mark.

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The Canadiens Can Win If…

Montreal’s 3-1 loss to the Penguins moved their record to 40-31-11. The Canadiens, underdogs on the puck line, failed to cover. The total for the game was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of that mark.

All of Pittsburgh’s goals came before Montreal got on the board, with the Canadiens’ lone goal coming at 14:28 in the third period. Christian Dvorak scored for Montreal, while the Penguins sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 19:15 in the third.

Montreal’s offense managed just one goal in their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh. Christian Dvorak netted his first goal of the season, which came 5:32 into the third period. The Canadiens took 26 shots on goal but were unable to convert on any of their 20 offensive giveaways.

Juraj Slafkovsky picked up his 7th assist of the season, while Emil Heineman recorded his first. The Canadiens were shut out in the first two periods before Dvorak’s goal in the third.

Montreal’s defense gave up the first two goals in their recent game against Pittsburgh, with both coming late in the 1st and 2nd periods. The Canadiens made it 2-1 in the 3rd, but the Penguins added an empty-netter with 45 seconds left, leading to a 3-1 loss. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 21 saves with a 91.3% save percentage, while the defense recorded 4 takeaways and 28 hits.

• Montreal has put together a record of 1-2 in their last three games (regular season). Across this span, their puck line record sits at 2-1 to go along with an over-under mark of 0-2-1.
• Across Montreal’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 5-5. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 2-7-1.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Canadiens to take down the Capitals at home. With the moneyline currently at +102, I’m placing my bet on the Canadiens straight-up.

Our projections have the Canadiens pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Canadiens, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

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Canadiens Aim to Crack Logan Thompson and Rally Against Capitals

Down 2-0 in their first-round series, the Montreal Canadiens head back home determined to solve the puzzle that is Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson. Game 3 on Friday night in Montreal presents a crucial opportunity for the Canadiens to reset and make it a series once again.

A Tough Climb After Back-to-Back Losses

Montreal’s struggles have been highlighted by offensive inconsistency and an inability to finish scoring chances, particularly in the critical third period of Game 2. Despite a spirited effort and 14 shots on goal in the final frame, they couldn’t crack Thompson, ultimately falling 3-1.

“I think we put up a pretty good fight in the third,” said Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki. “Had a bunch of scoring chances that could have went in, but I think overall we’re not that satisfied with how we’re playing right now. We need to go home and regroup and really bear down in these next couple of games at home.”

Connor McMichael was a standout for Washington, scoring twice, while Dylan Strome added the game-winner. Christian Dvorak had given the Canadiens a brief lead early in the second period before Washington’s quick two-goal burst turned the momentum.

Lineup Changes and Coaching Decisions

One of the storylines from Game 2 was the limited usage of star forward Patrik Laine, who did not see the ice at all in the third period. Head coach Martin St. Louis made the call to shorten his bench, opting to go with nine or ten forwards he believed could generate a comeback.

“They’re decisions you make as a coach,” St. Louis explained. “I shortened my bench by a lot in the third. Honestly, I went with the nine or 10 (forwards) who I thought could help the cause.”

Laine, who had 20 goals during the regular season, including 15 on the power play, has been struggling of late with only one goal in his last 11 games. His diminished impact leaves Montreal searching for more from its top talent as they look to extend the series.

If you’re considering the latest NHL picks for this matchup, the Canadiens’ desperate energy and home-ice advantage could tilt things — provided they can find a way past Thompson’s wall. You can check out updated NHL picks to see how experts are projecting Game 3 and beyond.

Logan Thompson’s Brick Wall

The story of the series so far has been Thompson’s steady presence in net. He weathered Montreal’s third-period storm in Game 2, making clutch saves to preserve the Capitals’ lead.

“That was the ‘LT’ that we saw for, call it 40 games or whatever he was playing at the beginning of the year where you could feel the confidence,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “You could feel the building with the energy with each save. It felt like he just got bigger and bigger and bigger.”

If Thompson continues to perform at this level, Montreal will need to find another gear offensively — or risk an early exit from the postseason.

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Experience Amid the Growing Pains

Despite the frustration, St. Louis noted that the playoff experience, though painful, is invaluable for a young Canadiens team still learning what it takes to succeed in high-stakes games.

“These were two games where you can’t buy that experience for our players,” St. Louis said. “We battled, there were moments that hurt us, they cost us the game. But the team doesn’t give up.”

Montreal’s resilience will be tested again in Game 3, but if they can find a way to finish their chances, the momentum could shift quickly.