Preview of Blackhawks vs Capitals: Prediction, Pick, Odds, and Viewing Information for Friday Night Hockey (Apr. 4)

• The Capitals are massive -380 home favorites over the Blackhawks on Friday Night Hockey
• Washington leads the NHL in scoring, while Chicago ranks 30th in goals allowed
• See our Blackhawks vs Capitals prediction and pick, plus the latest odds and how to watch, below

The Washington Capitals (48-18-9) host the lowly Chicago Blackhawks (21-44-10) on Friday night, as Alex Ovechkin inches closer to NHL history. Online sportsbooks heavily favor the Caps, installing them as -380 moneyline chalk in the NHL odds.

Puck drop from Capital One Arena is set for 7:00 pm ET, with NHL Network carrying the broadcast. For those in Canada looking to tune-in, Sportsnet will carry the action.

Blackhawks vs Capitals Prediction

My prediction is that this game soars over the 6.5 goal total. Chicago owns the second-worst record in the NHL and has completely fallen apart defensively of late. They’ve surrendered a whopping 21 goals over their last four contests and rank tied for 30th in goals allowed per game (3.59) on the season.

The Blackhawks’ road woes have been a constant theme, stumbling to a dismal 7-24-5 record away from the United Center. Netminder Spencer Knight, acquired at the trade deadline from Florida, has struggled mightily in Chicago. He’s posted an .878 save percentage and 3.34 goals against average over nine appearances with the Hawks.

While Chicago’s blue line inspires no confidence, their power play has quietly been a bright spot down the stretch. The Hawks convert at a 24.6% clip with the man advantage, good for 9th best in the NHL. They’ve scored a power play goal in three straight and should get ample opportunities against an undisciplined Caps squad that averages over 9 penalty minutes per game.

On the flip side, no team fills the net better than Washington. The Capitals pace the league in scoring, averaging a robust 3.60 goals per game. They’ve notched 271 goals in total, which trails only Winnipeg and Dallas. Expect their urgency to be high in this spot after losing four of five games for the first time all season.

Blackhawks vs Capitals Team Stats

Of course, the biggest storyline is Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s goals record. Ovi sits just three tallies shy of breaking the Great One’s mark of 894, and you can bet he’ll be firing early and often. The Capitals’ captain has goals in three straight games and should feast on a Chicago penalty kill that ranks 23rd overall (76.8%).

The Blackhawks allow the third-most shots per game (31.1), while Washington generates the sixth-most (31.6). Both teams surrender a high volume of quality chances, with Chicago ranking dead last in high-danger attempts against. Expect plenty of back-and-forth action as a result.

If you’ve been betting Blackhawks’ Overs all season, you’d be solidly in the green. The Over is 37-29 in their games, good for +4.5 units of profit. The Caps also tend to play high-event hockey, especially against inferior opponents. Washington is 9-1 to the Over in its last 10 against teams with a losing record.

Blackhawks vs Capitals Pick

All signs point to a track meet at Capital One Arena on Friday night. The Over has hit in four of Chicago’s last five games, while also cashing in four of Washington’s last five. I’m not overthinking this one – smash the Over and enjoy what should be a wildly entertaining affair.

Blackhawks vs Capitals Odds

Odds as of April 4th at DraftKings. Browse the available NHL betting apps for Friday Night Hockey.

The Over 6.5 goals is available at -118 odds at DraftKings, which is the best price I could find amongst major online sportsbooks. DraftKings also offers an intriguing prop on total goals in the first 10 minutes, with Over 0.5 priced at -166. Given the explosive potential of these offenses, that’s certainly in play as well.

The Chicago Blackhawks will face off against the Washington Capitals in an exciting matchup on Friday night, April 4th. Both teams are coming off strong performances and will be looking to secure a crucial win as they push towards the playoffs.

The Blackhawks have been playing some of their best hockey of the season recently, winning five of their last seven games. Led by captain Jonathan Toews and star winger Patrick Kane, Chicago’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, averaging over three goals per game during this stretch. Goalie Corey Crawford has also been solid between the pipes, posting a .920 save percentage in his last five starts.

On the other side, the Capitals have been dominant all season long, currently sitting atop the Metropolitan Division. Led by superstar Alex Ovechkin, Washington boasts one of the most potent offenses in the league, averaging over three and a half goals per game. Goalie Braden Holtby has been stellar in net, posting a .919 save percentage and five shutouts on the season.

In terms of predictions, this game is shaping up to be a close one. Both teams have strong offenses and solid goaltending, making it difficult to predict a clear winner. However, the Capitals may have a slight edge with their home-ice advantage and overall depth.

As for odds, the Capitals are currently favored to win with a -150 moneyline, while the Blackhawks are sitting at +130. The over/under for total goals is set at 6.5, indicating that oddsmakers are expecting a high-scoring affair.

For fans looking to catch the action, the game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Washington. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Overall, this matchup between the Blackhawks and Capitals promises to be an exciting one with playoff implications on the line. Both teams will be looking to secure a crucial win as they jockey for position in the standings. Be sure to tune in on Friday night for what should be a thrilling game of hockey.