Canadiens vs Capitals Prediction NHL Picks for Today 4/6

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NHL Game Preview: Capitals vs. Canadiens - April 6, 2023

The Washington Capitals will take on the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday evening at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. As the end of the NHL season draws closer, both teams have a lot to prove in this matchup. Montreal heads into the game with a four-game losing streak, while the Capitals have lost six of their last ten games. NHL picks experts and computer models are predicting a close game with low scoring, making it a difficult game to predict. NHL today experts will be watching closely as the Capitals look to end their recent losing streak and climb higher in the Metropolitan Division. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are focused on making up ground in the Atlantic Division, where they currently sit in eighth place. Despite their recent struggles, the Capitals are still a team to watch for as they have some of the league’s top performers, including Alexander Ovechkin, who has 42 goals and 31 assists this season. Meanwhile, the Canadiens have Cole Caufield, who has 26 goals and 10 assists. Looking at the NHL picks and parlay options, the experts are divided, with some predicting a win for the Capitals and others predicting a win for the Canadiens. NHL experts picks today are based on several factors, including injuries, performance in recent games, and team records. Overall, both the Canadiens and Capitals will be looking to come out strong in this matchup and improve their records heading into the end of the season. Fans and NHL picks experts alike will be watching this game closely, eager to see which team will come out on top.

Offensive Analysis: Capitals

The Washington Capitals may have a -1 scoring differential for the season, but they still have some offensive firepower on their roster. Alexander Ovechkin has had another standout season with 42 goals and 31 assists, and Dylan Strome has been productive with three goals and eight assists in his past 10 games. The Capitals are averaging 3.1 goals per game over their last 10, but their power play has been a weakness, converting just 20.2% of their opportunities. Against a struggling Montreal Canadiens team, the Capitals should look to exploit their opponent's defensive struggles. The Canadiens have given up an average of 3.8 goals per game over their last 10 and have struggled to keep their opponents off the board. Although the Capitals have also struggled defensively, they may be able to outscore the Canadiens and pick up a much-needed win. When it comes to NHL picks and predictions, the experts and computer models may lean towards the Capitals in this matchup. However, bettors should still exercise caution, as the NHL is notoriously unpredictable, and any team can come out on top on any given night. Overall, the Capitals have the offensive potential to come away with a win against the struggling Canadiens, but they will need to stay disciplined defensively and capitalize on their power play opportunities.

Capitals: Defensive Analysis

The Washington Capitals have had a tough season defensively, conceding an average of 3.08 goals per game, putting them 26th in the NHL. However, the team has shown some improvement in recent games, allowing an average of 2.86 goals in their last 10 games. This improvement can be attributed to the efforts of defenseman Dmitry Orlov, who has stepped up his game in recent weeks, averaging 4 blocked shots per game in his last five games played. Another key part of the Capitals' defensive strategy is their penalty kill. Despite ranking 31st in the league in penalty kill percentage, the Capitals have shown some improvement in recent games, killing off 85.7% of penalties in their last five games played. The team will need to continue this trend if they hope to shut down the Montreal Canadiens' power play, which ranks 15th in the league. In terms of goaltending, the Capitals' netminders have struggled this season, with both Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov posting save percentages below .910. However, Samsonov has shown some improvement in his last five games, posting a .921 save percentage, which could bode well for the team heading into this matchup against Montreal. Ultimately, the Capitals will need to tighten up their defensive game if they hope to come out on top against the Canadiens. If they can continue their recent improvement in goals allowed and penalty killing, they could stand a good chance of coming away with the win. 

Canadiens: Offensive Analysis

The Montreal Canadiens are entering their game against the Washington Capitals with a losing streak of four games. This does not bode well for their offensive performance as they have been struggling to find the back of the net recently. In their last 10 games, the Canadiens have averaged only 2.8 goals per game, which is below par for any NHL team. The offensive key players for the Canadiens are Cole Caufield and Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who have been performing well recently. Caufield has managed to score 26 goals and 10 assists this season, while Harvey-Pinard has scored six goals over the past 10 games. These two players will need to step up their game and provide the necessary spark for the Canadiens to break their current losing streak. The Capitals have a strong defensive line, and the Canadiens will need to work hard to find the gaps in their defense. With Washington conceding only 239 goals this season, the Canadiens will have their work cut out for them. Montreal will need to take advantage of any power play opportunities that they get, as they have been serving 11.4 penalty minutes per game, which is the third-most in the league. Based on NHL picks experts, the Canadiens may struggle to score against the Capitals. The best nhl bets today may not favor the Canadiens in their upcoming game. 

Canadiens: Defensive Analysis

The Canadiens enter their game against the Capitals with a four-game losing streak, but their defense has been a bright spot for the team this season. Montreal ranks in the top five in the league in fewest goals allowed per game, allowing only 2.5 goals per game on average. The Canadiens penalty kill has also been a strong part of their defensive game, ranking third in the league in penalty minutes served per game. Montreal's disciplined play on defense has made it difficult for teams to score on them, especially on the power play. Their defensive efforts will be challenged against the Capitals, who have some powerful offensive weapons in Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome. However, with their strong defensive track record this season, the Canadiens have the potential to shut down the Capitals' offense and secure a win. Overall, experts and computer NHL picks may favor the Capitals, but the Canadiens' defensive strengths and home-ice advantage could lead to a surprising upset victory. Canadiens fans can also consider NHL picks and parlays for this game, with the potential for a low-scoring affair and a Canadiens win with the spread.

Injury Report

Injury concerns could play a significant role in the upcoming game between the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens are dealing with multiple injuries, including David Savard, Christian Dvorak, Kaiden Guhle, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Sean Monahan, Josh Anderson, Carey Price, Juraj Slafkovsky, Alex Belzile, Arber Xhekaj, Jake Allen, Paul Byron, Cole Caufield, Jordan Harris, and Kirby Dach. Some of these players are out for the season with various injuries, while others are listed as day-to-day. On the other hand, the Capitals are also dealing with a few injuries, including Carl Hagelin, T.J. Oshie, Trevor van Riemsdyk, and Connor Brown. Carl Hagelin is listed as out due to hip concerns, while T.J. Oshie and Trevor van Riemsdyk

Prediction

Based on the recent information, the Capitals may win due to the following factors:

Offensive firepower: The Capitals have strong offensive players such as Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, who have been productive in recent games. The Canadiens, on the other hand, have been struggling to score goals.

Defensive improvement: Although the Capitals have had a tough season defensively, they have shown some improvement in recent games, allowing fewer goals per game. If they can continue this trend, they may be able to outscore the Canadiens and pick up a much-needed win.

Injury concerns: The Canadiens are dealing with multiple injuries to key players, including Carey Price and Cole Caufield, which could affect their performance in the game.

Pick: Capitals (Moneyline)