Vancouver Canucks vs Washington Capitals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/08/2025

Game Time: 7:30 pm ET, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Venue:  Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Canucks +140, Capitals -166; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Canucks +140, Capitals -165; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Canucks +140, Capitals -165; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Vancouver Canucks:  18-12-9 (4th place, Pacific Division)

Washington Capitals:  26-10-4 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

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Vancouver Canucks:  3-3-4 last 10

Washington Capitals:  5-3-1 last 10

The Canucks are entering this game with 45 points, a 18-12-9 record overall, and they are 11-4-3 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Montreal Canadiens in their last game, losing that one on the road 5-4 in overtime. J. T. Miller led the team in goals scored with 2 while Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Jake DeBrusk each scored 1 goal for them in that one. J. T. Miller and Quinn Hughes each led the team in assists with 2 while J. T. Miller and Jonathan Lekkerimäki each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Kevin Lankinen was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 5 goals on 24 shots with 19 saves and a .792 save percentage. Their offense has scored 120 goals this season averaging 3.1 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 126 goals against them allowing 3.2 goals per game.

The Capitals are entering this game with 56 points, a 26-10-4 record overall, and they are 13-4-3 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Buffalo Sabres in their last game, losing that one on the road 4-3 in a shootout. Tom Wilson led the team in goals scored with 2 while Aliaksei Protas scored 1 goal for them in that one. John Carlson led the team in assists with 2 while Alexander Ovechkin led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Charlie Lindgren was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 3 goals on 27 shots with 24 saves and a .889 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 148 goals this season averaging 3.7 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 108 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Capitals listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Capitals have looked really good in their games this season with their 26-10-4 record overall which has them leading their division in the East with one of the best records in the NHL. They have also looked really good on home ice with their 13-4-3 home record. Meanwhile, the Canucks have looked good in their games this season with their 18-12-9 record overall, but that record only has them in 4th place of their division in the West. They have looked better in their road games this year with their 11-4-3 road record, but they haven't looked great lately. They are only 3-3-4 in their last 10 games and they are coming off a loss to the Canadiens in their last one as they have been struggling against weaker teams lately. They have also been giving up a lot more goals and that will get them into trouble since the Caps have been putting pucks in the net all year, but they have also been really good defensively too. The Capitals are also coming off a loss in their last one, losing in a shootout to the Sabres, but they will be looking to bounce back on home ice and they have been the more consistent team all season too. The best way to place a bet here is on the Capitals to win this game. 

Canucks Capitals Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 (7:30 pm ET start time) is Capitals 4 Canucks 1.

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Vancouver Canucks: 56-47 (+4.6 units) on the moneyline after playing a road game. 22-17 (+5.7 units) on the moneyline after 2 or more consecutive losses. 86-80 (+7.3 units) on the moneyline against excellent power play teams- scoring on over 17.5% of their chances. 28-19 OVER off a road loss.

Washington Capitals: 101-107 (-6.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 53-51 (-6.3 units) on the moneyline in home games. 46-57 (-14 units) on the moneyline after playing a road game. 45-38 (-9.9 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a losing record. 

Vancouver Canucks:  D. Joshua (C) Out - Leg. T. Demko (G) Out - Back. E. Pettersson (C) Out - Undisclosed. F. Hronek (D) Out - Upper-Body.

Washington Capitals:  S. Milano (LW) Out - Upper-body. N. Backstrom (C) Out For Season - Hip. T. Oshie (RW) Out For Season - Back.

“He’s trying to do the right things. He had a tough start with training camp, a couple of things were bothering him, obviously when he was out for about a month.” - Rick Tocchet on JT Miller after his team’s loss against the Canadiens in their game on Monday. 

"We just really struggled in every facet, especially puck play execution. We just could not make a play tonight with the puck, 10 foot pass, whatever it might be." - Spencer Carbery after his team’s loss against the Sabres in their game on Monday. 

LW Jonathan Lekkerimaki

C J.T. Miller

RW Brock Boeser

LD Quinn Hughes

RD Tyler Myers

G Kevin Lankinen

LW Alex Ovechkin

C Dylan Strome

RW Taylor Raddysh

LD Rasmus Sandin

RD John Carlson

G Charlie Lindgren

Points: Q. Hughes (44)

Goals: J. DeBrusk (17)

Assists: Q. Hughes (36)

GAA: K. Lankinen (2.63)

Points: D. Strome (45)

Goals: A. Ovechkin (19)

Assists: D. Strome (33)

GAA: L. Thompson (2.39)

Coaches:

Vancouver Canucks: Rick Tocchet (3rd season)

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (2nd season)