If you’re searching for best bets for the Washington Capitals’ upcoming contest against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, then you’ve found the right spot. Read on, as we provide our picks and predictions for this showdown.

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Capitals vs. Wild Picks

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Total Pick

Pick OU: Push (model projecting 6 goals)

• Washington and its opponent have hit the over on this game’s total (6 goals) 21 times this season.
• There have been 18 Minnesota games with more than 6 goals this season.
• The total for this game (6) is 0.6 less than the combined scoring averages for the Capitals (3.65) and Wild (2.95).
• These two teams concede a combined 5.3 goals per game, 0.7 less than this one’s over/under.

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Moneyline Pick

Capitals Moneyline: -138

• In the 17 times this season the Capitals have been favored on the moneyline, they have finished 12-5 in those games.
• Washington is 9-5 (winning 64.3% of its games) when playing with moneyline odds of -138 or shorter.
• The Capitals’ implied moneyline win probability is 58.0% in this matchup.

Wild Moneyline: +117

• In Minnesota’s 13 games playing as the underdog on the moneyline this season, it has five wins.
• The Wild have won four games with moneyline odds of +117 or longer (in 10 such games).
• Minnesota’s moneyline gives it an implied probability of 46.1% to win this game.

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Score Prediction

Prediction:
Washington 4, Minnesota 2

Capitals Points Leaders

• With 11 goals and 29 assists this season, Dylan Strome is one of Washington’s top contributors (40 points).
• Having scored 16 goals and adding 16 assists, Aliaksei Protas is a strong contributor for Washington through 37 games.
• On 96 shots (for 16 goals) and 14 assists, Connor McMichael has created 30 points this season.
• In the 19 games Logan Thompson has played this season, his save percentage is .918, the seventh-best in the league.

Wild Points Leaders

• Kirill Kaprizov is a top offensive contributor for his squad with 50 points (1.3 per game). He has totaled 23 goals and 27 assists in 34 games (playing 20:14 per game).
• Minnesota’s Marco Rossi has racked up 32 total points (0.8 per game), with 14 goals and 18 assists.
• Matthew Boldy has scored 13 goals and contributed 18 assists for Minnesota, giving him a point total of 31.
• Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson is 17-6-3 this season, amassing 713 saves and permitting 59 goals (2.3 goals against average) with a .924 save percentage (sixth-best in the league).

Capitals’ Schedule

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Wild’s Schedule

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Washington vs. Minnesota Game Info

• Date: Thursday, January 2, 2025
• Time: 7:00 PM ET
• How to watch on TV: ESPN+
• Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
• Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Venue: Capital One Arena

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