Game Details
- Puck drop is scheduled for 12:30 PM ET (9:30 AM PT)
- Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
- Broadcast: ABC, SN1, TVAS
This Atlantic vs. Metropolitan Division matchup features the Boston Bruins hosting the Washington Capitals in an early afternoon clash with playoff implications. The Bruins aim to rebound from a recent road loss and extend their impressive home winning streak, while the Capitals look to climb back into wild-card contention after dropping two straight.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams have shown inconsistency post-Olympic break, with Boston relying on home dominance and Washington struggling defensively in losses.
Washington Capitals (4-6 in last 10 games): The Capitals have lost two straight, averaging 2.6 goals per game while allowing 3.1 in their last 10. They’ve shot 29.4 shots per game but have a -4 goal differential recently. Key recent results:
- Mar 3 vs. UTA: L 2-3 (Ryan Leonard: 1 G; outshot 25-23)
- Feb 28 @ NSH: L 1-3
- Feb 26 vs. PHI: W 3-1
- Feb 24 vs. NYR: OT L 3-4
- Feb 22 @ MTL: W 4-2
- Feb 20 vs. NSH: OT W 3-2
- Feb 18 @ NYR: L 2-5
- Feb 11 vs. MIL: W 5-3
- Feb 9 vs. DAL: L 1-4
- Feb 7 @ PHI: W 3-1
Washington has gone under the total in 6 of their last 7 games and is 2-4 ATS in their last 6.
Boston Bruins (5-5 in last 10 games): The Bruins snapped a four-game point streak with a loss but average 3.0 goals per game while allowing 3.2. They’ve won 11 straight at home, outscoring opponents 41-25 in that span. Key recent results:
- Mar 5 @ NSH: L 3-6 (Charlie McAvoy: 1 G, 1 A)
- Mar 3 vs. PIT: W 2-1 (Marat Khusnutdinov: 1 G; Jeremy Swayman: 34 SV)
- Feb 28 vs. NYR: OT L 3-4
- Feb 26 @ CHI: W 4-0
- Feb 24 vs. CBJ: W 5-2
- Feb 22 @ FLA: SO L 2-3
- Feb 20 vs. TBL: W 3-1
- Feb 18 @ FLA: L 1-4
- Feb 11 vs. CBJ: W 4-2
- Feb 9 @ TBL: OT W 3-2
Boston is 4-2 ATS in their last 6 and has gone under in 4 of their last 5 home games.
Injury Report
Injuries could affect Washington’s blue line and Boston’s forward depth, though both teams are relatively healthy entering the game.
Washington Capitals:
cbssports.com +3
- John Carlson (D): Questionable (lower body; day-to-day, missed last 4 games)
- Aliaksei Protas (C): Questionable (personal reasons; day-to-day)
Boston Bruins:
cbssports.com +5
- Jonathan Aspirot (D): Questionable (illness; day-to-day)
- Pavel Zacha (C): Questionable (upper body; day-to-day, recently returned but monitoring)
- Elias Lindholm (C): Out (upper body; on IR, expected to miss Olympics and beyond)
Key Player Matchups
This game pits veteran scoring threats against strong defensive units, with goaltending likely deciding the outcome in a low-scoring affair.
- Alex Ovechkin (WSH, LW) vs. David Pastrnak (BOS, RW): Ovechkin (projected 35+ goals this season) brings power-play prowess (leading WSH with 12 PPG). Pastrnak (30+ goals, 6.2 shots per game recently) counters with speed and sniping, exploiting Washington’s perimeter defense (allowing 28.4 shots per game).
- Dylan Strome (WSH, C) vs. Casey Mittelstadt (BOS, C): Strome (high TOI: 18:49, playmaker with 40+ assists) faces Mittelstadt (recent goal scorer, 16:10 TOI), who thrives in faceoffs (52% win rate). This center battle controls possession in a tight-checking game.
- John Carlson (WSH, D) vs. Brad Marchand (BOS, LW): If Carlson plays (questionable), his quarterbacking (46 points) anchors Washington’s blue line against Marchand’s agitating style (20+ goals, penalty-drawing leader). Boston’s forecheck could target Carlson’s mobility if limited.
Other notables: Logan Thompson (WSH G: .912 SV% recently) vs. Jeremy Swayman (BOS G: .920 SV%, 34 saves in last win); Pierre-Luc Dubois (WSH) vs. Charlie McAvoy (BOS) for physical interior play.
Series History
Boston leads the all-time series 89-60-21-14 (including playoffs), with a 114-92-33 edge in some counts. Recent matchups favor Boston, who have won 11 of the last 20 (BOS 11-8-1). Key recent results:
- Jan 14, 2026: BOS 4-2 @ WSH
- Nov 8, 2025: BOS 3-1 vs. WSH
- Mar 30, 2025: WSH 2-1 @ BOS (last Capitals win)
- Jan 10, 2025: BOS 5-3 vs. WSH
Boston is 6-3 SU in their last 9 home games vs. Washington and has covered the spread in 4 of the last 6 head-to-head.
Betting Trends
- Spread: Capitals have covered +1.5 in 6 of last 7 as underdogs, but Bruins are 12-6 SU at home.
- Total: Under has hit in 6 of Washington’s last 7 and 4 of Boston’s last 5 home games.
- ATS Trends: Bruins 4-2 ATS in last 6; Capitals 2-4 ATS in last 6 overall.
Game Odds
Washington Capitals 5.5
Boston Bruins – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 6, 2026
