The Washington Capitals have had an exceptional season this year and are poised for a deep playoff run. Standing in their way Saturday afternoon is a Columbus Blue Jackets team that will be eliminated from playoff contention with a defeat.
Alexander Ovechkin has been the star of the show in Washington after he broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal record last week. His exceptional form has put the Capitals firmly in the race for the President’s Trophy this season, and they will want to keep their momentum alive with the playoffs right around the corner.
Will the Columbus Blue Jackets keep their faint postseason aspirations alive, or will the Great 8 find the back of the net again as he closes in on 900 career NHL goals?
Matchup: Capitals vs Blue Jackets Overview
- Teams: Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets
- Date: Saturday, April 12th, 2025
- Time: Puck drop is at 12:30 PM EST
- Venue: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
Win Probabilities:
The NHL win probabilities can be calculated using insights from recent NHL games in combination with expert NHL picks and predictions. The Washington Capitals are sitting on top of the Eastern Conference standings and have a 69.22% chance to win this NHL game. The Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, but they have long odds of playing meaningful hockey next week. The NHL win probabilities expect their matchup against the Capitals to be their nail in the coffin as the Blue Jackets have just a 30.78% chance to win this NHL game.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score for this Saturday afternoon matchup is Washington Capitals 5-2 Columbus Blue Jackets.
Capitals vs Blue Jackets Odds
The Washington Capitals are looking to secure the President’s Trophy this season, and every point is crucial as they try to chase down the mighty Winnipeg Jets. It is no surprise to see the Washington Capitals coming into this game as favorites on the NHL odds, as the Columbus Blue Jackets have virtually been eliminated from playoff contention this season. Home ice advantage for the Blue Jackets could keep this closer than initially expected, but the NHL odds still tilt the ice in favor of the Capitals.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Washington Capitals Could Win
The Washington Capitals are chasing after the Jets for the Presidents’ Trophy, and they will want to collect a regular season accolade before the playoffs get underway. Ovechkin has been dominant in front of the net, but this team is far more than their future Hall of Famer.
What has turned the Capitals into legitimate Stanley Cup contenders is their scoring depth. They have seven players with 50+ points on their roster and have no shortage of young talent in Washington. Aliaksei Protas is far from a household name, but his work on the second line has led to 30 goals and 36 points this season. Now that Ovechkin has secured his record, the Capitals can shift their attention to developing prospects like Protas at this stage of the season.
Columbus has strung together back-to-back wins heading into this game but lost three in a row before that. The Blue Jackets have struggled against the top teams in the league this season, losing 10 of their last 11 games against a team in a playoff spot. Washington will look to score an early goal in this one, and there is no reason to expect the Blue Jackets to put up a fight on the offensive end of the ice. For your NHL prediction in this matchup, the Capitals winning on the moneyline is a great pick.
Why the Columbus Blue Jackets Could Win
The Columbus Blue Jackets have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games and have slipped down the Eastern Conference standings. It is never a good sign when a team’s leading scorer is a defenseman, as Zach Werenski’s 75 points are a team high. Werenski is a strong blue liner for the Blue Jackets’ future, but there is no denying the fact that Columbus desperately needs help on the offensive end.
Sean Monahan has been promising this season with 50 points in 49 games, while Krill Marchenko has scored a team-high 31 goals. Monahan and Marchenko have a strong record against the Capitals and will look to unlock Logan Thompson in the crease.
One thing playing in favor of the Blue Jackets is that every player on the ice will be fighting for their future in the league. There is plenty of bottom-end talent on the Blue Jackets, and half their team is a few bad games away from being sent to the minors. While that may be seen as a negative, effort is everything at this stage of the season. There is a real possibility the Capitals will come into this game with ha alf-hearted effort, and the Blue Jackets must be the team putting in extra effort if they hope to upset the NHL odds with a win.
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