Capitals vs Islanders Prediction, Picks & Odds for Sunday's NHL Game

All eyes will be on Alex Ovechkin as he sits on the cusp of history, but there’s also value in backing the Capitals to notch another road win on Long Island.

Tony Sartori - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Tony Sartori • Betting Analyst
Apr 5, 2025 • 16:41 ET • 4 min read

NHL

Match starts: 2 hrs
NYI
25 %
WAS
75 %
EXPERT PICK - MONEYLINE
Washington -152 Washington -152
Read Analysis
Alex Ovechkin Washington Capitals NHL
Photo By - Imagn Images. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin.

The New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals on Sunday at UBS Arena. Oddsmakers list Washington as a -152 favorite, with the total set at 5.5 goals.

New York has lost six of its past seven games, and my Capitals vs. Islanders predictions expect that trend to continue. 

Read on for my NHL picks for Sunday, April 6.

Will Alex Ovechkin score on Sunday?

Alex Ovechkin is now tied with Wayne Gretzky for the most goals in NHL history after scoring twice against the Chicago Blackhawks in Friday’s game.

Ovi can cement his name on Sunday, and considering that he has scored 12 goals over his past 20 meetings against New York, it's likely to occur.

Capitals vs Islanders prediction

My best bet: Capitals moneyline (-152 at FanDuel)

My analysis
A major reason for the New York Islanders’ recent slide is their inability to suppress high danger scoring chances. Over the past two months, they rank 28th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60).

Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin has struggled with the product in front of him. Sorokin has surrendered three or more goals in four of his past five starts, posting a 1-4 record and .878 SV% during that stretch. 

On the other hand, the Washington Capitals rank ninth over the past two months in xGA/60. Subsequently, they also rank higher than the Islanders in expected goals for percentage (xGF%).

Charlie Lindgren is projected to start in net for Washington, and he should serve as a good candidate to back. Through two career outings against New York, Lindgren is 1-0 with a .921 SV% and 2.70 GAA.

The Capitals have won three of the past four meetings between these two teams, and I have full confidence in backing them on Sunday.

Capitals vs Islanders same-game parlay (SGP)

Capitals moneyline

Alex Ovechkin anytime goal

Tom Wilson anytime goal

Two prime candidates to score for Washington are Ovechkin and Tom Wilson, both of whom skate on the top line and first power-play unit.

Those two should have some quality looks on special teams, given that New York sits 29th in penalty-kill percentage. Earlier this week, both Ovechkin and Wilson scored in the Capitals’ 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Capitals vs Islanders odds

Capitals vs Islanders live odds

Capitals vs Islanders opening odds

  • Puck line: Washington -1.5 (+158) | New York +1.5 (-196)
  • Moneyline: Washington -150 | New York +125
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-134) | Under 5.5 (+110)

Capitals vs Islanders trend

New York has lost six of its past seven games. Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Islanders.

How to watch Capitals vs Islanders

Location Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Date Sunday, 4-6-2025
Puck drop 12:30 p.m. ET
TV ABC

Capitals vs Islanders latest injuries

Not intended for use in MA.
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Tony Sartori - Covers.com
Betting Analyst

Tony Sartori has written over 1,000 pieces of sports betting content across multiple different media outlets. He covers the NHL, UFC, PGA, NFL and MLB. Tony started part-time while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he went on to receive a B.A. in Economics and a certificate in Entrepreneurship in 2022. He continues to work full-time in the sports betting landscape.

Due to the variety of sports he covers, Tony is handicapping every day. If he had one piece of betting advice for a new sports bettor, it would be to strictly enforce bankroll management rules for yourself. If you set aside $10,000 for your betting bankroll, then you should generally only be betting between $100 - $500 per play.

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