For the first time in franchise history, the Washington Capitals finally overcame years of playoff failures and won the Stanley Cup. The Capitals, who were founded in 1974 as an expansion team alongside the Kansas City Scouts, have also won two conference championships and three President Trophies for most points in the regular season. Since purchasing the team in 1999, Ted Leonsis revitalized the club by drafting star players such as Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Braden Holtby.
Washington Capitals Next Game
The Washington Capitals are currently coached by Spencer Carbery, who took over in 2023 after Peter Laviolette and the team mutually agreed to part ways. The Capitals have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, won in 2018 under coach Barry Trotz.
Star player Alexander Ovechkin remains the team’s captain and still leads them in goals, though at age 38 his production has declined. The Capitals’ roster has seen some turnover in recent years but still features key core players like Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov and John Carlson.
In 2022-23, the Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division. They will look to return to the postseason in 2023-24 with a mix of aging veterans and young players like Hendrix Lapierre and Aliaksei Protas. The team plays its home games at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
There’s always a little more pressure on the Capitals when they play one of their seven Metropolitan Division rivals — especially those they have some playoff history with like the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers.
Washington Capitals Schedule
The NHL regular season generally runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. Each team plays either four or five games against the other teams in its division as well as playing all non-divisional teams in their own conference three times. The remaining games of the season are inter-conference play, allowing every team in the league to play every other team twice.
Washington Capitals Standings
The Capitals are one of eight teams in the Metropolitan Division and one of 16 in the Eastern Conference. These standings help bettors pick out the Capitals’ overall position from the league’s other 30 teams. It also offers other interesting statistics like Washington’s record at home and on the road.
Washington Capitals Betting Tips
It's game night and time to decide if the Capitals are worth the risk in betting on tonight's contest.
If Ovechkin is healthy, the Capitals always have a chance against any opponent. But it takes more than one superstar hockey player to win a game, so don't get caught up in all the "Ovie" hype.
Here are some of the most important stats and trends to look for when deciding on your wagers:
- • Team record at Capital One Arena or on the road.
- • Team record against today's opponent this season and historically.
- • Team record against a division rival or non-conference opponent.
- • Player injuries or suspensions, especially to the elite play-makers.
- • How many games has the team played in consecutive days.
- • Current streak, whether it's winning or losing.
- • Team record in last 10 games or this month.
- • Who is starting in goal tonight for each team.
All of these options will help a bettor make an educated decision on whether to "play" the Capitals in their next game or not.
Obviously, there are no sure things in the world of gambling. But if the Capitals are on a four-game winning streak and they're playing a team that they have a winning record against, it is a good bet to pick the Capitals.
There are three basic bets offered on all NHL games at online sites like Bovada — the money line, puck line and over/under totals.
Money line
Money line betting is simply wagering on the contest based on a given price rather than a point spread. The team wagered on has to win the game outright, regardless of the score.
Let's use this game as an example for money line betting: The Pittsburgh Penguins (+110) are at Capital One Arena to take on the Washington Capitals (-130).
So, what do the numbers mean after the team names? First of all, if there is a minus sign in front of a number (-130), that is how much a bettor must wager to win $100. If there is a plus sign in front of a number (+110), that is how much profit a bettor makes on a $100 wager.
For example, a bettor has to wager $130 on Washington to earn a $100 profit and a $230 total return. A bettor has to wager $100 on Pittsburgh to earn a profit of $110 and a $210 total return.
Puck line
NHL puck line betting is a point spread where the line is fixed at +/- 1.5. It works as an advantage for the game's underdog by leveling the playing field between both teams. The underdog can still lose the game by a goal but win the puck line bet.
Over/under totals
A total, or over/under, bet is a wager on the total number of goals scored by both teams in a game. Oddsmakers set the mark and the bettor decides if the total will be over or under the betting line.
Online sites also offer proposition bets on each game, which include predicting the score after each period, how many goals a certain team will win by, alternative puck lines, and many more.
There's also future betting on whether the Caps will win the Eastern Conference or the Stanley Cup. Even though future odds change throughout the season and playoffs, your odds are fixed when you make your bet on Washington.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
