The Washington Capitals, atop the Metropolitan Division with a scorching six-game win streak, invade the Honda Center to face a Anaheim Ducks team reeling from a brutal 7-0 home demolition at the hands of Utah on December 3. This inter-conference clash pits Washington’s balanced attack (3.50 GF/GP, 2nd in NHL) against Anaheim’s high-octane but leaky offense (3.48 GF/GP, 4th), with the Ducks’ defense allowing 3.37 GA/GP (23rd). Alex Ovechkin (16 PTS, chasing history) and Tom Wilson (29 PTS, 15G) lead the Caps’ surge, while Leo Carlsson (25 PTS, 10G-15A) anchors Anaheim’s youth movement amid goaltending woes. Washington’s road prowess (8-3-1, +1.2 margin) meets Anaheim’s home inconsistencies (9-3-0 but recent 0-1 blowout), setting up a potential shootout where special teams loom large (Caps PP 17.3%, Ducks PK 75.0%). The Caps seek a seventh straight W; the Ducks desperately need a bounce-back to stay in Pacific contention. This is the first of two meetings this season, with a rematch in D.C. on January 5, 2026.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Honda Center, Anaheim, California (home of the Anaheim Ducks; capacity: 17,174). The OC staple, opened in 1993, has been a mixed bag for Anaheim (9-3-0 overall home but vulnerable lately), with its raucous crowds fueling upsets but exposed in the recent Mammoth rout.
Tipoff: 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (national stream), Bally Sports SoCal (Ducks local), Monumental Sports Network (Caps local). Streaming on Fubo and NHL app.
Washington wraps a three-game California road trip (2-0-0 so far: W 3-1 vs. LAK Dec. 2, W 7-1 vs. SJS Dec. 3), while Anaheim opens a four-game homestand post-loss.
Team Records
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference Standing | Recent Streak |
| Washington Capitals | 17-9-2 (.643) | 9-6-1 home / 8-3-1 away | 1st in Metropolitan (2.0 GB ahead of CAR) | W6 (9-1-0 in last 10) |
| Anaheim Ducks | 16-10-1 (.611) | 9-3-0 home / 7-7-1 away | 4th in Pacific (3.0 GB behind VGK) | L1 (6-3-1 in last 10) |
Washington ranks 2nd in scoring (98 GF, 3.50 GF/GP) and 5th in defense (69 GA, 2.46 GA/GP), with a +29 differential. Anaheim is 4th offensively (94 GF, 3.48 GF/GP) but 23rd defensively (91 GA, 3.37 GA/GP), with a +3 differential.
Recent Team Forms
The Capitals are ablaze, winners of six straight and 9-1-0 in their last 10, blending elite scoring with shutdown D. Latest: a dominant 7-1 road rout of San Jose on December 3 (Ovechkin 2A, Thompson 28 SV), following a 3-1 grinder at LA Kings on December 2 (Beauvillier GWG).
Over the last 5 games (5-0-0): W 7-1 at SJS, W 3-1 at LAK, W 4-1 vs. NYI (Nov. 30), W 5-2 vs. WPG (Nov. 28), W 4-3 vs. CBJ (Nov. 26). Average: 4.6 GF, 1.6 GA (+3.0 margin); 29.6 SOG, .904 SV%. Road surge (8-3-1, +1.2 margin) showcases Thompson’s .916 SV%; they’ve outscored foes 47-23 in last 10, covering 7/10 ATS.
Anaheim’s form has cooled after a hot November, dropping their latest 7-0 home stunner to Utah on December 3 (Mrazek pulled after 3 GA). Before: a 4-1 road W at St. Louis on December 1 (Carlsson 2A).
Over the last 5 games (3-2-0): L 0-7 vs. UTA, W 4-1 at STL, W 5-4 SO vs. LAK (Nov. 29), L 3-5 vs. VAN (Nov. 27), W 5-0 vs. BUF (Nov. 25). Average: 3.4 GF, 3.4 GA (0.0 margin); 29.5 SOG, .885 SV%. Home inconsistencies glaring (9-3-0 but -7 in last two), with 60% overs but PK woes (75.0%, 32nd) exposed.
Injury Report
Injuries hit both backends hard, with Washington’s D questionable and Anaheim’s net decimated. Fluid updates pre-puck; Ducks’ tandem strained on short rest.
| Team | Player | Status | Injury/Details | Impact |
| Capitals | John Carlson (D) | Questionable | Upper body (missed Dec. 3 vs. SJS; GTD Dec. 5) | Top-pair anchor (16A); if out, blue line thins (PP 17.3% dips 3%). |
| Capitals | Justin Sourdif (RW) | Out | Lower body (“little bit of time”; missed Dec. 3) | Depth winger (2G-6A); bottom-six scoring hit. |
| Capitals | Pierre-Luc Dubois (C) | Out | Abdomen (surgery Nov. 9; 3-4 months) | Second-line pivot (0P in 6 GP); creation void (AST -4.2/game). |
| Capitals | Nicholas Dowd (C) | Out | Upper body (IR since Nov. 28) | Penalty-killer (1G-4A); PK 72.9% suffers. |
| Ducks | Petr Mrazek (G) | Out | Lower body (2-3 weeks since Nov. 30; re-eval Dec. 19) | Backup G (.876 SV%); tandem overloads (team .885 SV% without). |
| Ducks | Lukas Dostal (G) | Out | Upper body (IR since Dec. 1; re-eval Dec. 15) | Starter (.904 SV%); netminders decimated. |
| Ducks | Mikael Granlund (C) | Out | Lower body (IR since Nov. 26; re-eval Dec. 7) | Second-line C (3G-6A); faceoffs drop 5% (team 49.2%). |
Key Player Matchups
Washington’s structure tests Anaheim’s transitions, but Ducks’ shots (29.5 SOG) pressure Caps’ .904 SV%. Special teams battle: Caps 17.3% PP vs. Ducks 75.0% PK.
Alex Ovechkin (WSH) vs. Radko Gudas (ANA): Ovechkin’s chase (16 PTS) vs. Gudas’ physicality (hits leader); Gudas shadows snipers. Edge: Ovechkin.
Tom Wilson (WSH) vs. Leo Carlsson (ANA): Wilson’s grit (29 PTS, 15G) vs. Carlsson’s finesse (25 PTS); Wilson’s even-strength dominates. Edge: Wilson.
John Carlson (WSH) vs. Trevor Zegras (ANA): Carlson’s QB (16A) vs. Zegras’ creativity (assume 15+ P); Carlson’s mobility counters. Edge: Carlson if plays.
Dylan Strome (WSH) vs. Mason McTavish (ANA): Strome’s setup vs. McTavish’s physical C; McTavish’s faceoffs edge. Edge: Even.
Net: Logan Thomspon (WSH) vs. John Gibson (ANA): Thompson’s .916 SV% vs. Gibson’s .885; Thompson’s road form shines. Edge: Thompson.
Monitor Ducks’ 29.5 SOG vs. Caps’ 25.7 SA; Washington’s 54.4% faceoffs control play.
Series History
The Capitals-Ducks rivalry dates to 1993, with 47 regular-season meetings and no playoffs. Washington holds the edge, dominating recently.
All-Time Regular Season: Capitals lead 25-21-1 (54.3%). Last 10 RS: Capitals 7-3-0.
All-Time Playoffs: None (0-0).
Overall: Capitals 25-21-1 (54.3%).
Recent: Capitals won last 7-4 (Mar. 11, 2025 at ANA). Ducks won prior 3-2 (Jan. 14, 2025 at WSH). In last 5: Capitals 4-1, averaging 5.6-4.0 scores (Caps +1.6 margin). Overs hit 80%.
Home teams win 55% ATS; favorites cover 60% in recent tilts.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: Caps 13-15 ATS overall (8-5 road); Ducks 11-16 ATS (9-4 home). Trend: Road faves cover 4/7 Caps last.
Moneyline: Caps 14-7 as faves (8-3 at -138 shorter); Ducks 12-8 as dogs (7-4 +116 longer).
Total: 16/28 Caps overs (57%); Ducks 16/27 overs (59%). Last 5 H2H: 80% over. Trend: Overs 7/10 Ducks home; 6/10 Caps road.
Predicted Score: Washington Capitals 5, Anaheim, Ducks 3
Game Odds
Washington Capitals – 142
Anaheim Ducks 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, December 4, 2025
