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Anaheim (21-17-3) at Washington (21-15-6)
- When: Jan 5 2026, 7:00 PM
- Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, USA
- TV: MNMT
Anaheim vs Washington NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Washington -140
Spread: Washington -1.5 (+170)
Total: 6.5
Odds and Game Setup
Washington sits as a moneyline favorite at -140 with the total posted at 6.5. That number suggests goals will happen, stress will happen, and at least one goalie will stare at the ceiling afterward wondering how everything went so wrong.
Anaheim Ducks Breakdown
Anaheim arrives in Washington carrying the emotional weight of a five game losing streak and the energy of a team that has officially lost the vibes. Two months ago, the Ducks were flying around, stacking wins, and looking like a surprise contender. Now they are playing hot potato with the puck and nobody wants to be the one holding it.
The goaltending situation has turned into a weekly adventure. Lukas Dostal has not been terrible, but he has been asked to perform miracles while defenders gift wrap scoring chances like it is a holiday charity drive. Turnovers have been frequent, confidence has dipped, and suddenly simple clears feel like advanced calculus.
Anaheim still plays heavy and physical, which keeps them annoying to face. The problem is that annoyance does not show up on the scoreboard. When the Ducks fall behind, their offense struggles to chase games, and mistakes multiply. On the road against a veteran team, this is not the spot you want to rediscover confidence.
Washington Capitals Breakdown
Washington has not exactly been lighting the league on fire either, but they at least know who they are. The Capitals are comfortable winning ugly, grinding games down, and surviving nights where nothing looks smooth.
Injuries have complicated things. Tom Wilson and Aliaksei Protas are both question marks, which removes some muscle and finishing ability. Even without them, Washington still plays structured hockey and leans on experience to manage game flow. This team does not panic when things stall out offensively. They wait. They cycle. They annoy you back.
The Capitals also remember the earlier meeting where Anaheim stole a shootout win after Washington blew multiple leads. That tends to stick. Teams do not forget those games, especially at home, especially when they feel they let one slip.
Prediction
This game has all the ingredients of a classic get right spot for Washington. Anaheim is searching for answers. Washington is searching for consistency. The Capitals home ice, structure, and motivation give them the edge against a Ducks team still stuck in neutral.
Expect Anaheim to compete early with physical play and some energy. Expect Washington to take over as the game settles, forcing Anaheim into mistakes and capitalizing just enough to separate.
The total feels reachable thanks to defensive lapses and tired legs, but this should not turn into chaos. More controlled than wild, more grinding than flashy.
Score Prediction: Capitals 4, Ducks 2
Pick: Washington -1.5 (+170)
Total: Under 6.5 (-120)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
