Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
TV: Prime Video / MNMT (Monumental Sports Network); also available on ESPN+ in many markets.
Both teams are playing the second half of a back-to-back. Montreal won 4-3 in a shootout at home against Buffalo on Tuesday; Washington lost 4-2 on the road at Carolina.
Current Rosters & Key Personnel
Montreal Canadiens (Coach: Martin St. Louis)
Key forwards (from NHL.com roster data):
Nick Suzuki (C): 6 GP, 3G-5A-8P
Cole Caufield (RW): 6 GP, 3G-1A-4P
Juraj Slafkovský (LW): 6 GP, 1G-2A-3P
Josh Anderson (RW): 6 GP, 2G-2A-4P
Chris Kreider (LW): 6 GP, 1G-3A-4P
Zachary Bolduc (RW): 6 GP, 3G-1A-4P
Alex Newhook, Phillip Danault, Jake Evans, Kirby Dach, Alexandre Texier also feature.
Key defensemen:
Lane Hutson: 6 GP, 1G-5A-6P (heavy minutes, ~26:49 TOI/GP)
Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier, Arber Xhekaj; Mike Matheson (limited).
Goalies: Jakub Dobes (3 GP, 1-1-1, 4.43 GAA, .856 SV%), Jacob Fowler (3 GP, 2-1-0, 1.91 GAA, .908 SV%). Samuel Montembeault is out.
Washington Capitals (Coach: Spencer Carbery)
Key forwards include Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, Aliaksei Protas / Ilya Protas, Ryan Leonard, Boone Jenner, Alex Tuch (status fluid), Jordan Kyrou, and others such as Anthony Beauvillier. Key defensemen: Jakob Chychrun, Martin Fehervary, Vincent Desharnais, Timothy Liljegren, Justin Holl (recent recall), Cole Hutson. Goalies: Logan Thompson (primary, started Tuesday) and Charlie Lindgren (likely starter tonight; 0-1-0, ~2.08 GAA, .931 SV% in limited action).
Injury Reports
Canadiens:
Samuel Montembeault (G, lower body) – Out (IR; expected return ~Oct. 20).
Ivan Demidov (RW, lower body) – Out (multi-week; ~Oct. 31).
Oliver Kapanen (C, lower body) – Out.
Mike Matheson (D, lower body) – Day-to-day (missed recent games).
Florian Xhekaj (LW, undisclosed) – Day-to-day.
Additional depth (Lucas Condotta, Bryce Pickford) out. Canadiens have recalled defenseman David Reinbacher.
Capitals:
Rasmus Sandin (D, knee) – Long-term IR.
Matt Roy (D, lower body) – Out (IR).
Patrick Thomas (C, upper body) – Out.
Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW/C, illness) – Day-to-day (missed recent travel/game).
Alex Tuch (RW, undisclosed) – Day-to-day / game-time decision in recent reports.
Projected Starting Goalies
Montreal: Jakub Dobes (confirmed or highly projected in multiple reports; Fowler started Tuesday).
Washington: Charlie Lindgren (highly likely as Thompson played Tuesday night).
Recent Team Forms
Canadiens (3-2-1): Two straight shootout wins (vs. BUF 4-3 SO, vs. DET 1-0 SO). Prior results included losses to NSH, CAR, and an OT loss at PIT, plus an earlier win. Offense has been inconsistent; power play ranks near the bottom (~10%). Strong faceoff percentage (~53%). They rank around mid-pack in goals for but higher in goals against.
Capitals (3-3-0): On a two-game slide (L 4-2 at CAR, L 5-3 vs. SEA). Earlier wins over NYR and PIT. Home record solid early (2-1-0). Slightly better special teams (PP ~13%, PK ~86%). More balanced but dealing with defensive absences.
Series History
All-time is extremely close (roughly Capitals lead ~91-90 with ties in broader counts; regular-season and overall figures vary slightly by source but hover near even). Recent meetings favor Washington overall. In 2025-26, Capitals took the season series 2-1 (including an 8-4 win and OT decision; Montreal won the finale 6-2 on Feb. 28, 2026). 2024-25 playoffs saw Capitals win a first-round series 4-1. Under has hit in several recent games in Washington. Season series this year: tied 0-0.
Key Player Matchups
Nick Suzuki / Cole Caufield / Juraj Slafkovský vs. Capitals top defensive pairings (e.g., Jakob Chychrun and partners): Montreal’s top unit drives offense; Hutson’s playmaking from the blue line will be key against Washington’s structure.
Alex Ovechkin / Tom Wilson / Dylan Strome lines vs. Montreal’s defense (Hutson, Dobson, Carrier, etc.): Ovechkin remains a constant threat; Wilson’s physicality and Strome’s setup ability (strong history vs. Montreal) test a Canadiens group missing Matheson and others.
Goaltending duel: Dobes’ high-event style and early struggles (.856 SV%) vs. Lindgren’s solid limited sample.
Special teams and faceoffs: Montreal’s FO advantage vs. Capitals’ better PK. Physical play (Anderson, Xhekaj, Wilson) will factor.
Both coaches (St. Louis and Carbery) emphasize structure and transition; last-change advantage belongs to Washington at home.
Betting Trends
Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in Washington. Both teams on the second night of a back-to-back (fatigue factor). Montreal has gone Over in several recent games as underdog; Capitals games have been mixed. Public lean often favors the home side.
Game Odds
Montreal Canadiens 6.5
Washington Capitals – 123
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 13, 2026
