Washington (49-18-9) at NY Islanders (33-32-10)
- When: Apr 6 2025, 12:30 PM
- Where: UBS Arena, Belmont Park, NY, USA
- TV: TNT
Capitals vs Islanders Preview & Prediction
Moneyline Favorite: Washington -147 | Total: 6.0 Goals
In what’s shaping up to be a pivotal late-season Eastern Conference clash, the Washington Capitals head to Elmont, NY on Sunday afternoon to face the New York Islanders. The spotlight will be firmly on Capitals legend Alex Ovechkin, who’s poised to make NHL history by breaking his tie with Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goals record. He enters this matchup with 894 career goals, needing just one more to stand alone atop the list.
Washington Capitals Outlook
But this isn’t just about Ovechkin’s quest for greatness—there are serious playoff implications in play. Washington (49-18-9, 107 points) has already locked up a postseason berth and holds a double-digit lead atop the Metropolitan Division. However, with seeding still in flux, the Capitals are motivated to keep winning down the stretch. They’re riding the momentum of a 5-3 win over Chicago in which Ovechkin scored twice and Ryan Leonard added an empty-netter.
Ovechkin has caught fire of late, with goals in four consecutive games and 26 tallies in his last 42 outings. He’s been dominant historically against the Islanders with 44 goals in 71 games, although he’s never scored on Ilya Sorokin, who is expected to be between the pipes for New York. The pressure will be on Sorokin to keep Ovechkin out of the record books—at least for one more game.
New York Islanders Outlook
As for the Islanders (33-32-10, 76 points), their margin for error is razor-thin. Currently five points out of the final wild-card spot in the East, New York is in must-win mode with just seven games left. They snapped a six-game skid with a 3-1 win over Minnesota on Friday, getting goals from Casey Cizikas, Simon Holmstrom, and Noah Dobson. But if they’re going to make a late surge, they’ll need a repeat performance—and possibly more—to take down a Capitals team playing with purpose.
Betting Prediction
From a betting perspective, the total of 6.0 makes sense given both teams’ recent scoring trends. Ovechkin’s current form suggests he’s good for at least one goal, and with the Islanders desperate to stay in the hunt, expect a spirited effort. Still, Washington’s firepower and motivation to help Ovi make history tilt this one in their favor.
Score Prediction: Capitals 5, Islanders 2
Best Bet: Washington -1.5 (+165)
Total: Over 6 Goals (-117)
Player Prop Pick: Alex Ovechkin to score a goal (-115) – With the record within reach, expect him to come out firing.
✅ Alex Ovechkin Specials Odds & Props
- NHL Odds source: MYBookie Sportsbook
