Florida (42-24-3) at Washington (46-15-8)
- When: Mar 22 2025, 5:00 PM
- Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC, USA
- TV: MNMT
NHL Betting Preview: Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals
Moneyline Favorite: Florida -120 | Total: 5.5
Florida Panthers (42-24-3, 87 points)
The Panthers are clinging to playoff positioning in the tight Eastern Conference race and enter Saturday’s contest in Washington as narrow road favorites. After dropping three of their previous four games, Florida snapped the skid with a gritty 1-0 overtime win at Columbus on Thursday.
Aleksander Barkov delivered the game-winner just 29 seconds into OT on the power play, while Sergei Bobrovsky was lights out between the pipes with his fifth shutout of the season. It was the kind of playoff-style win coach Paul Maurice wanted to see, and it could be a momentum boost heading into D.C.
Despite recent struggles, Florida has been in tight battles every night and is proving it can grind out low-scoring games. Their defensive structure has tightened up again, and Bobrovsky has looked sharp. Expect a focused Panthers squad to bring intensity in a game that has major playoff implications.
Key Betting Note: Florida is 6-2 in its last 8 road games when coming off a win and thrives in grind-it-out matchups. The Under has hit in 5 of their last 7 overall.
Washington Capitals (46-15-8, 100 points)
The Capitals are scorching hot, having clinched a playoff berth thanks to Thursday’s 3-2 win over the Flyers — their third straight and eighth in nine games. They sit atop the Eastern Conference standings and continue to ride the high of their late-season surge.
Alex Ovechkin added to the storyline by netting his 888th career goal, now sitting just six shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record. His goal on Thursday lit up the crowd and set the tone early, proving that the veteran sniper still knows how to make a statement when it matters most.
Goaltender Charlie Lindgren was solid in net once again, stopping 27 shots, and the team’s defensive discipline and opportunistic scoring have become a hallmark during this run. Washington is in playoff form already, and they’re tough to fade, especially at home with momentum on their side.
Key Betting Note: Washington is 7-2 in its last 9 home games, and Ovechkin has scored in 4 of his last 6.
Prediction & Betting Analysis
This matchup has all the ingredients for a playoff-style showdown: tight-checking, goaltending duels, and postseason positioning on the line. While Florida is a slight moneyline favorite, Washington is the hotter team and more rested. The Panthers are on the second half of a back-to-back and may struggle to generate sustained offense against a locked-in Capitals squad.
Look for the Caps to feed off home energy and push the tempo early, while Florida will try to slow things down and rely on Bobrovsky to steal one late. The Under is also a solid play with both teams tightening up defensively and goaltenders in top form.
Final Score Prediction:
Best Bets:
Washington Capitals ML (+100 or better)
Under 5.5 (-110)
Expect a battle, but Washington continues to ride their hot hand and defend home ice.
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
