- The Capitals are -140 moneyline favorites on the road versus the Wild on Thursday night
- Alex Ovechkin is just 6 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record
- See the Capitals vs Wild prediction, odds and Ovechkin goal props below
The hockey world inches closer to witnessing history as Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record takes center stage Thursday night. The NHL’s most electrifying chase continues as Ovi and his Capitals visit the Wild as road chalk in the NHL odds.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm ET at Xcel Energy Center, with ESPN+ providing the broadcast coverage.
Capitals vs Wild Prediction
- Capitals Moneyline (-140) at FanDuel
The Capitals enter play leading the NHL with a 47-15-9 record, including an impressive 23-8-3 mark away from home. Washington ranks first in goals per game (3.63) and third in goals against (2.55). They’ve been on an absolute tear lately, going 8-1-1 in their last 10 despite Tuesday’s overtime setback in Winnipeg.
Washington has been remarkably resilient following losses this season. The Capitals are 12-2-1 after regulation or shootout defeats in 2024-25, showing tremendous bounce-back ability. Their impressive record after setbacks ranks among the NHL’s best, making them a strong play when coming off a loss like Tuesday’s OT heartbreaker against the Jets.
The Wild, meanwhile, are trending in the opposite direction. Minnesota has dropped two straight and gone 4-5-1 in their last 10, putting their playoff position in jeopardy. Their offensive woes have been particularly glaring lately, managing just one goal total in their last two games against Dallas and Vegas.
Minnesota’s struggles can be largely attributed to injuries. They remain without superstar Kirill Kaprizov and key center Joel Eriksson Ek, leaving their 28th-ranked offense (2.68 goals per game) even more depleted. Their penalty kill ranks dead last in the NHL at 71.4%, which could spell disaster against Washington’s potent attack that features Ovechkin’s one-timer from his office.
Given the stark contrast in team trajectories and Washington’s dominant road performance this season, all signs point to the Capitals getting back in the win column tonight. The Wild’s league-worst penalty kill should provide multiple scoring opportunities for a Capitals team that’s consistently shown they can bounce back from defeat.
Alex Ovechkin Props
NHL Player Prop odds as of March 27 at FanDuel Sportsbook.
All eyes will be on Ovechkin as he continues his pursuit of Gretzky’s record. The Great Eight scored his 889th career goal on Tuesday against Winnipeg and now sits just six tallies away from surpassing The Great One’s mark of 894. Despite missing time with a broken fibula earlier this season, Ovi has maintained his elite production with 35 goals in just 54 games.
One significant note for tonight’s matchup: Filip Gustavsson is expected to start for the Wild, not veteran Marc-Andre Fleury. Gustavsson has conceded two goals to Ovechkin during his time with the Ottawa Senators, providing a different challenge for the Capitals sniper.
This is not great news for Ovi bettors, as the Russian superstar has dominated Fleury throughout his career with 28 goals against the future Hall of Famer. Gustavsson presents a less familiar target for Ovechkin, which could still work in his favor as the Wild netminder hasn’t faced Ovi’s one-timer with the same frequency as Fleury.
Ovechkin is averaging 4.57 shots per game over his last seven outings, making the over on his 4.5 shot total particularly enticing. He’s been firing shots at an impressive rate with 200 shots on goal in just 54 games this season.
With Minnesota’s league-worst penalty kill potentially creating prime power play opportunities, the +120 odds on him finding the back of the net offer solid value against a goaltender he’s had limited exposure to.
Alex Ovechkin Prop Picks:
- Over 4.5 Shots (-115)
- Sprinkle Anytime Goal (+120)
Washington Capitals vs Minnesota Wild Odds
The Capitals are currently -140 moneyline favorites, in a game with a total of 5.5. Washington is +176 to cover the 1.5 goal puck line, something they’ve accomplished 23 times on the road this season.
Odds as of March 27 at FanDuel. Check out SBD’s FanDuel Sportsbook review to see the available sign-up bonuses.
Charlie Lindgren gets the start for Washington against his hometown team. When these teams met earlier this season, Lindgren made 30 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss at Capital One Arena. Minnesota counters with Filip Gustavsson, who’s had an up-and-down campaign for the Wild.
For those looking at a same-game parlay, combining the Capitals moneyline with an Ovechkin goal and the under 5.5 total offers appealing value. Minnesota has scored two or fewer goals in each of their last six losses, while Washington’s elite goaltending tandem should keep the Wild’s struggling offense at bay.
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The Washington Capitals will face off against the Minnesota Wild on March 27th in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams have been playing well as of late, with the Capitals currently sitting in first place in the Metropolitan Division and the Wild holding onto a playoff spot in the Central Division.
One of the key players to watch in this game will be Alexander Ovechkin, the star forward for the Capitals. Ovechkin is known for his scoring ability and has consistently been one of the top goal scorers in the league throughout his career. In fact, he recently became the all-time leading goal scorer among Russian-born players in NHL history.
When it comes to predicting how Ovechkin will perform in this game, it’s always a safe bet to expect him to find the back of the net. Ovechkin has a knack for scoring goals in big moments and has a history of performing well against the Wild. In terms of odds, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Ovechkin listed as a favorite to score a goal in this game.
As for goal props, Ovechkin is always a popular choice among bettors. Some potential goal props to consider for Ovechkin in this game could include over/under on total goals scored, first goal scorer, or even a prop bet on whether he will score a hat trick.
Overall, the Capitals vs Wild matchup on March 27th is shaping up to be a thrilling game with plenty of scoring opportunities. With Alexander Ovechkin leading the charge for the Capitals, fans can expect an exciting and high-scoring affair. Be sure to keep an eye on Ovechkin and his goal props as this game unfolds.