Vancouver Canucks vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, Preview, and Odds
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The Vancouver Canucks (34-12-6) came into this season with high hopes, but few people saw this coming, as they have been the best team in the NHL throughout the first half of the season, and after making some big trades, it appears this team is going all-in for a shot at the Stanley Cup in 2023-24.
On Sunday they'll battle the Washington Capitals (23-20-7), a team that has struggled to put a healthy, talented lineup around Alexander Ovechkin all season long. While they've fought hard, they are on the verge of missing the playoffs again unless something drastic changes soon.
Can Vancouver keep flying atop the NHL standings?
The Vancouver Canucks have been an underperforming team for a few years now, but in 2023-24 it's all coming together, and with a 5-2-1 record over their past eight games, they find themselves at 34-12-6 on the season, placing them atop not only the Pacific Division standings but the overall NHL standings too. Despite losses in their past two away from home, the Canucks have posted an impressive 16-8-4 record in 28 games played on the road this season, and with a +57 goal differential and players still getting acclimated to the lineup, it's safe to say that this is a team with a genuine shot to go all the way in 2023-24.
Leading the way for Vancouver this season is a dominant group of offensive weapons, with Elias Pettersson, Quin Hughes and J.T. Miller all posting over 64 points on the year, and in net they've been just as good, with the duo of Casey DeSmith and Thatcher Demko combining for a 2.57 GAA and a .919 save percentage. The last time out for Vancouver was a fiery Saturday afternoon clash with the Detroit Red Wings, with Hronek and Pettersson combining for six points in the game only for the team to blow a 3-1 lead, coming away with one point as they would fall 4-3 on the Jake Walman overtime winner.
Can Washington salvage something from their season?
The Washington Capitals came into this season looking to make an unlikely playoff push, and at this moment, it appears to be just that, unlikely, as the team have lost six of their past seven games, putting them in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, taking away seeming all hope of another shot at the Stanley Cup. At home this year, Washington have been great, posting a 13-8-4 record in 25 games played, but with a -32 goal differential and little offense to be seen beyond star Alex Ovechkin, this season is all but done for a once fantastic franchise that appear to be falling fast.
Leading the way for Washington in 2023-24 is their captain, with 35 points in 47 games played as he looks to chase down Wayne Gretzky's goal scoring record, with their goaltending being solid without being spectacular, posting a 3.08 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Last time out for the Capitals was a win to snap their six game losing skid, with multi-point nights from both T.J. Oshie and Ovechkin leading the way as Charlie Lindgren stopped all 18 shots he saw on the night for the 3-0 shutout win over the Boston Bruins.
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Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
Despite their dominant season thus far, this is a rivalry that the Canucks have failed to excel in, with the Washington Capitals picking up a 7-3 record in their past 10 head-to-head encounters, including wins in three straight.
Their last meeting came back in November of 2022 however, and since that point, Vancouver has been the far superior team, with wins in two of their past three matchups in Washington, as well as a 16-8-4 record this season on the road, they've proven they can win away from home, and that should be no different in this matchup.
Prediction: Vancouver -162
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
In 2023-24, both of these teams have seen fantastic performances from their goaltending, but when they do battle, the offense comes out to play as the over is 6-4 in their past 10 head-to-head matchups, with their past three games resulting in 15 goals for the Washington Capitals.
For the Canucks, the over is just 4-5-1 in their past 10 overall games, but they have allowed four goals in five of their past seven games, and for the Capitals, the over is 5-4-1 over that same time frame, with 25 goals allowed in their previous five games before a shutout last time out, and all of this should lead to a high-scoring affair in this one.
