The Montreal Canadiens (4-5-1) travel to face off against the Washington Capitals (6-2-0) on Thursday, October 31st. This game will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington and televised on ESPN+. The Capitals are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Canadiens are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Kraken. Puck drop is set for 7:00 ET.

Canadiens vs Capitals

The Montreal Canadiens Look To Bounce Back From A Loss

Montreal’s record fell to 4-5-1 after an 8-2 road loss to the Kraken. The Canadiens entered the game as underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 10 goals easily surpassed the pre-game line of 6.

Defensively, the Canadiens struggled from the start, giving up a goal just 25 seconds into the first period. They allowed four goals in total during the first period.

The Washington Capitals Are Coming Off A Win

With a 5-3 win over the Rangers, the Capitals improved to 6-2-0 this season. Washington, as underdogs on the puck line, covered in this one. The total was set at 6 goals, and the teams combined for 8.

Four different players scored for the Capitals, with Ovechkin leading the way with two goals. Washington jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period and held on from there.

Montreal Offense Breakdown

Montreal fired 30 shots on goal but only found the net twice in their 8-2 loss to the Kraken. Cole Caufield scored his 9th goal of the season, while Josh Anderson added his 2nd, with Anderson’s goal coming at 4:32 in the third period.

The Canadiens recorded 11 giveaways and had two players score in the game. Jayden Struble picked up his 2nd assist of the season, and Mike Matheson added his 9th assist on Anderson’s goal.

Capitals Offense Breakdown

Washington took 46 shots on goal in their 5-3 win over the Rangers. Alex Ovechkin scored twice, bringing his season total to 4 goals. Connor McMichael also netted his 4th goal of the season, while Aliaksei Protas added his 2nd. Nic Dowd scored his 4th goal on an empty net with 36 seconds left in the game.

The Capitals jumped out to a quick start, scoring three times in the first period. They added a 4th goal at the 15:30 mark of the second period before Dowd’s empty-netter sealed the win. Washington recorded 10 giveaways in the game.

Montreal Team Defense

Montreal’s defense struggled early, giving up the first four goals of the game, the first just 25 seconds into the 1st period. They also gave up two more in the 2nd and two in the 3rd, leading to an 8-2 loss. Goalie Sam Montembeault made 5 saves with a 50% save percentage, and the defense added 19 hits and 2 takeaways.

Washington Team Defense

Washington’s defense will look to build off a strong 3rd period in their last game, where they didn’t allow a goal. The Capitals gave up 3 goals to the Rangers, including 2 in the 2nd period, but they were able to shut the door in the 3rd and secure a 5-3 win. Goalie Logan Thompson made 16 saves with a save percentage of 84.2%.

Canadiens vs Capitals Trends

• In their last five road games, Montreal has averaged 3 goals per game while allowing 4. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-4 while going 4-1.
• The Capitals are 3-0 puck line in their last three home games and 3-0 straight-up.
• Through their last five games as the underdog, the Capitals have an puck line record of 4-1 and a straight up mark of 4-1.
• As the betting favorite, the Canadiens have an puck line record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 2-1.

Canadiens vs Capitals Prediction

If you’re considering a direct moneyline bet, the Capitals is the choice to make. However, with a payout of -196, you might want to use this bet as a building block for a parlay.

If you’re looking for a puck line bet, I’d suggest going with the Canadiens to cover. Even in the event of a Capitals victory, this game is expected to be closely fought, and the Canadiens should cover the puck line.

For those looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our expectation is that this game will surpass that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the over.

---

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

---

* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.