Maple Leafs vs Capitals Prediction, Picks & NHL Odds


John Tavares has been a thorn in the side of the Caps his entire career and our expert NHL predictions expect that trend to continue tonight at Washington.

Mike DiStefano - Betting Analyst at Covers.com

Dec 28, 2024 • 11:31 ET

• 4 min read

Photo By – Imagn Images.

We’ve got 11 games on the NHL betting slate tonight, including an Eastern Conference clash between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotia Bank Arena.

John Tavares has been a thorn in the side of the Caps his entire career, and my Maple Leafs vs. Capitals prediction will be targeting his points prop for tonight’s best bet.

Find out why in my free NHL picks for this December 28 matchup.

Maple Leafs vs Capitals prediction

My Leafs pick
John Tavares Over 0.5 points (-160 at Sports Interaction)

My Leafs analysis

The Buds won the first matchup of the season 4-3 in overtime; meanwhile, the Caps were victorious earlier in the month when Washington beat Toronto 3-1 at SBA.

Despite being even in the season series, the Leafs have had immense success against the Washington Capitals lately. They have won eight of their last ten games and scored four or more goals in seven of those meetings.

The Leafs’ biggest offensive weapon during that 10-game span has been former Maple Leafs captain John Tavares.

The 34-year-old has a team-high 16 points in that stretch and is riding a six-game point streak against the Caps. Furthermore, Tavares has 49 career points against the Capitals through 48 games.

It’s really a perfect storm to be betting on Tavares right now.

Not only does he dominate the Capitals each time he plays them, but he’s also just generally playing some of his best hockey in years right now with at least one point in six straight games, totaling 11 points in that stretch.

He’s been given an elevated role over the past few games as well with Auston Matthews out with injury.

In this time, Tavares has been reunited with Mitch Marner and the two are rekindling the magic they once had earlier in their careers.

They’ve both put up back-to-back multi-point games in the two games since being put together. Additionally, Tavares has also found success on the power play in two straight games.

So whether it’s on the man advantage or at 5-on-5, the Leafs’ top pivot will hope to continue his dominance against Washington.

Maple Leafs vs Capitals same-game parlay (SGP)

John Tavares anytime goal

Under 7.5 goals

Capitals puck line +1.5

For the first leg of the SGP, we’ll mirror the John Tavares point prop with an anytime goal from the Leafs veteran.

Tavares has 17 goals on the season and has scored at least once in four of the last five games against Washington, including both of the previous matchups earlier this season.

Next up, we’ll roll with the alternate total and take Under 7.5 goals tonight. The Caps have been in a lot of tight, low-scoring games lately. They’re 8-0-2 to the Under in their last 10 games.

Historically, this Leafs vs. Caps matchup has gone Under 7.5 goals in eight of the last 10 meetings between these two clubs.

For the final leg of our SGP, I’m going to take the Capitals on the puck line. The Caps have been cover darlings this season, going 22-12 against the spread.

They’ve also been excellent on the road with a 12-5 record overall, so an outright win with the Leafs on a back-to-back isn’t out of the question either.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Maple Leafs vs Capitals odds

Maple Leafs vs Capitals live odds

Maple Leafs vs Capitals opening odds

  • Puck line: Toronto (+113) | Washington (-135)
  • Moneyline: Toronto +1.5 (-225) | Washington -1.5 (+180)
  • Over/Under: Over 6 (-120) | Under 6 (+100)

Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction

Maple Leafs vs Capitals trend

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hit the Game Total Under in 26 of their last 47 games at home. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Capitals.

How to watch Maple Leafs vs Capitals

Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date: Saturday, 12-28-2024
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: Sportsnet

Maple Leafs vs Capitals latest injuries

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to face off against the Washington Capitals in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. With both teams boasting talented rosters, this game is bound to be a close one.

The Maple Leafs are coming off a strong season, finishing second in the North Division. Led by star players Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, Toronto has the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the league. Their defense and goaltending have also shown improvement, making them a well-rounded team.

On the other hand, the Capitals had a solid season themselves, finishing first in the East Division. Led by veteran players Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Washington has a potent offense and a solid defense. They also have a strong goaltender in Ilya Samsonov, making them a tough team to beat.

In terms of predictions, this game could go either way. Both teams have the talent and experience to come out on top. However, if I had to make a pick, I would give a slight edge to the Maple Leafs. With their dynamic offense and improved defense, I think Toronto has what it takes to come out on top in this matchup.

As for the NHL odds, the Maple Leafs are likely to be slight favorites in this game. However, with two evenly matched teams, anything can happen. It should be a thrilling game to watch, and fans can expect plenty of goals and excitement on the ice.

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Maple Leafs vs Capitals, NHL prediction, NHL picks, NHL odds, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, hockey prediction, hockey picks, hockey odds, NHL betting, NHL matchup.

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