The Washington Capitals will wrap up their three-game Western road trip with a date against the Vancouver Canucks, who have won six of their last seven and are trying to climb into the playoff race. The Caps currently sit in the last playoff spot in the East but are 11-15 SU since January 1.
Are the Canucks buyers and not sellers with the trade deadline approaching? Are the Capitals better than a .500 team, and can their goaltending win them games down the stretch? Find out in our free NHL picks and predictions for Capitals vs. Canucks on Friday, March 11.
Capitals vs Canucks odds
This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.
This game opened as a pick ‘em but has moved to Vancouver -115 with a total 6 that has hit 6.5 on some books. The Canucks won 4-2 in Washington back in January as a +150 underdog and closing total of 5.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until puck drop and be sure to check out the full NHL odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Capitals vs Canucks predictions
Predictions made on 3/11/2022 at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Capitals vs Canucks game info
• Location: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC
• Date: Friday, March 11, 2022
• Puck drop: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet Pacific
Capitals vs Canucks betting preview
Key injuries
Capitals: Carl Hagelin F (Out).
Canucks: Jason Dickinson F (Out).
Find our latest NHL injury reports.
Capitals vs Canucks head-to-head record since 2015-16
Capitals: 7-3 SU, 34 goals for.
Canucks: 3-7 SU, 25 goals for.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 9-0 in the Canucks' last nine games following a win. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Canucks.
Capitals vs Canucks picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Moneyline analysis
The Capitals come into tonight’s meeting having stolen a point versus the Oilers Wednesday night thanks to an uncalled Alex Ovechkin hook that helped set up the Caps’ game-tying goal. They likely should have lost that game but instead picked up a single point which was their seventh in their last four games.
The points haven’t been cheap ones either, as the Caps have beaten the Hurricanes and Flames recently, but this is still a Washington team that has a .481 point percentage since January 1, which is a Bottom-12 mark in hockey. They’re 11-15 SU over that stretch and own a negative goal differential. Vancouver may be the 10th in the West, but this is a tough matchup for the Capitals.
Vancouver headed into the Christmas break with a 14-16 SU record, which was a Bottom-10 pt% mark. Since then, Bruce Boudreau’s team is 15-8-4 which is better than 20 other teams in hockey, including the Capitals. The Canucks are also 8-2 SU in their last 10 and have one of the best offenses in hockey right now.
The Canucks have scored four or more goals eight of their last nine games and their 4.60 goals per game mark over the last 30 days is tops in the league. This has been one sneaky offense of late and is rolling and J.T. Miller is leading the way.
Once trade-bait, Miller is doing everything he can to get this team in the postseason, as the forward has 21 points in his last 10 games. He has been padding his power-play stats, too, as eight of those 21 have come with the man advantage, and the Canucks are scoring at 30.3% on the PP of late.
The Vancouver back end is also in good hands with Thatcher Demko likely drawing the start. Demko is 12-7 SU at home this season with a 2.25 GAA and a .930 SV%. That home save percentage is a Top-6 mark in hockey. Demko has the ability to win games himself, but with the league’s best offense over the last 30 days, he doesn’t need to be at his best to grab the victory.
Vitek Vanecek might be tasked with slowing down the Nucks tonight in the Washington crease. The second-year goalie has won three straight games but has been playing above his head across his last eight starts, and we might be seeing some regression after he allowed four goals to Calgary in his last start.
The Caps are scoring under 3.00 goals per game since January 1 and are relying on their top two lines' scoring, which is a little more difficult on the road without last change. This will be their third game in four nights and the final game of a cross-country road trip.
Vancouver has shown they can win 6-4 games (vs. Toronto) as well as 7-1 games (vs. Calgary). They are the hottest team in the league and Boudreau has this team playing with confidence as they push for the playoffs. They have the highest-scoring offense in hockey right now and the advantage in net with Demko. We’re siding with the market movement on this one.
Prediction: Canucks ML (-115)
Over/Under analysis
Betting on Vancouver Overs has been the most profitable trend of late in the NHL. The Canucks have hit nine straight Overs, which is why we’re scratching our heads with an opening total of 6 here.
This total will close at 6.5 but there are still some 6’s out there. Vancouver has seen a total of 6.5 in three of its last four games while the Capitals are 4-1 to the Over in their last five and have seen both teams score at least three goals in three of those five games.
The Vancouver offense has been the main reason for all these Overs cashing. They’ve been held to Under three goals just once across their last 12 games. Miller is scoring at will, Elias Pettersson has 14 points over the last 10 games, Brock Boeser is racking up PP points and everyone is chipping in. They’ve also been giving it up as well and are allowing 3.50 goals per game in their last 10.
Vancouver has seen an average of 8.10 total goals per game since February 11 which is, by far, the most in the league. The penalty kill has been this team’s Achilles heel and ranks as the league’s worst unit. The Capitals can certainly take advantage of this, as they’ve potted 10 power-play goals in as many games.
We’re hopping on this 6 — even at -130 — and would play this Over as high as 6.5 (-115). We could see both teams hitting the three-goal mark tonight, and even if Demko stands on his head, this Vancouver offense has proven it can still cash the Over even with their opponent scoring two or fewer.
Prediction: Over 6 (-125)
Best bet
We’re banking on some goals Friday night. The Canucks have ripped off nine straight Overs and we’re getting a total that is a half-goal too short.
Vancouver has the league’s hottest offense and has been playing in plenty of shootouts of late. We could also be seeing some power-play goals lift this Over across the line. We’re getting on this Over 6 immediately.
Pick: Over 6 (-125)
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