- Matchup: Washington Capitals vs Ottawa Senators
- Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
- Venue: Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
- Broadcasting: TSN5
- Betting Odds: Capitals (-152) Senators (+126)
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The Ottawa Senators (18-14-5) are set to face off against the Washington Capitals (20-13-5) this Thursday at the Canadian Tire Centre. The moneyline shows Washington at -152 while Ottawa is positioned at +126, with the total set at 6.
Recently, the Washington Capitals celebrated a thrilling 4-3 win against the Devils. Demonstrating impressive offensive skills, they managed to capitalize on 4 out of their 33 shots. They also had a power play opportunity but failed to score. The Capitals received 6 penalty minutes during this match.
The Capitals have proven themselves offensively this season, netting 121 goals (ranking 10th in the NHL) while allowing 102. They have accumulated 45 points with a points percentage of .592. So far, Washington has had 106 chances on the power play, converting 16 of those for a success rate of 15.09%. At even strength, they’ve given up 74 goals while scoring 105. With 1,116 total shots taken, their shooting percentage stands at 10.8%. Defensively, the Capitals have faced 1,052 shots and maintain a save percentage of .903. They’ve allowed their opponents 118 power play opportunities (13th in the NHL), where 28 goals have been scored against them.
In goal for the Capitals will be Charlie Lindgren. Over his professional career, Lindgren has appeared in 161 games, posting a record of 78 wins, 57 losses, and 17 ties. He has started 151 contests and has allowed 430 goals with a goals against average of 2.85. Lindgren has faced 4,478 shots, achieving a total of 4,048 saves, giving him a career save percentage of .904 over 7,926 minutes played. He has recorded 80 quality starts, resulting in a quality starts percentage of .530.
In their previous match, the Senators faced off against the Maple Leafs, ultimately losing 7-5. Ottawa found the net 5 times from 31 shots but failed to score during their single power play opportunity.
Throughout the season, the Senators have accumulated 121 goals and 41 points, yielding a points percentage of .554. They have allowed 120 total goals, split between 90 at even strength and 30 while short-handed. The Senators have notched 90 goals at even strength and an impressive 31 goals (3rd in the league) while enjoying a man advantage. They have had 120 power play chances this season, achieving a conversion rate of 25.83%. With 1,034 shots taken (ranking 22nd in the NHL), their shot percentage is at 11.70%. Conversely, they’ve allowed their opponents 946 shots and own a penalty kill rate of 70.59% on 102 power play attempts, with a current save percentage of 87.3%.
Guarding the net for Ottawa will be Leevi Merilainen. He has made 537 saves out of 597 shots faced, leading to a save percentage of .899. Merilainen’s career record stands at 12 wins, 10 losses, and 2 ties across 24 games, with 22 starts and a total of 765 minutes logged. His quality start percentage is 50.0%, having achieved 11 quality starts throughout his career. He has allowed an average of 2.73 goals per game, giving up a total of 60 goals.
Who will come out on top in tonight’s NHL showdown, against the spread or on the moneyline?
Prediction: Bet on Washington (-152)
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