Capitals Look to Stay Hot Against Kraken as Ovechkin Nears Milestone

Washington Capitals vs Seattle Kraken March 9th 2025

Planning on watching today’s Kraken and Capitals game? Catch the action at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, as the Capitals hosts this showdown at 3:30 ET on ESPN+. The over/under goal line for this matchup is currently at 6 goals, and the Capitals are favored by -1.5 vs. the Kraken.

Seattle vs. Washington Key Information

Teams: Kraken at Capitals
Where: Capital One Arena Washington
Date: Sunday, March 9th
Betting Odds WAS -241 | SEA +201 O/U 6

The Kraken Can Win If…

Seattle’s record fell to 27-33-4 after a 2-0 loss to the Bruins. The Kraken were underdogs on the puck line and the total line was set at 6 goals, but the game’s 2 total goals fell well short of that number.

Both of Boston’s goals came in the first period, with the first one coming just 3:23 into the game. Seattle’s offense struggled, managing only 23 shots on goal and failing to score.

Seattle’s offense was held scoreless in their 2-0 loss to Boston, despite putting 23 shots on goal. The Kraken had 19 giveaways and failed to find the net in any of the three periods.

None of Seattle’s players scored, and they finished with zero assists. The team was shut out for the game, including on the power play.

Defensively, the Kraken gave up both goals in the first period, including one just 3:23 into the game and another at 10:03. Joey Daccord finished with 31 saves and a 93.9% save percentage. Seattle’s defense added 4 takeaways and 18 hits.

Over their last three regular season games, the Kraken have gone 1-2 straight up. Against the spread, Seattle went 1-2 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 2-1.
Through their last ten regular season contests, Seattle has a record of 4-6. Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 5-5 over-under mark.

The Capitals Can Win If…

Washington’s 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes moved their record to 41-14-8 for the season. The Capitals were the underdogs on the puck line, and the total of 6 goals matched the pre-game line.

After falling behind 1-0, Washington responded with two goals in the first period. However, the Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals to secure the win.

Washington’s offense got off to a fast start in their 4-2 loss to Carolina, with Alex Ovechkin netting his 7th goal of the season on a power play, followed by Brandon Duhaime’s 2nd goal. The Capitals took 21 shots on goal and recorded 15 giveaways.

After scoring twice in the first period, Washington was held scoreless for the rest of the game. Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist of the season, while Dylan Strome added his 13th assist on Ovechkin’s goal.

Washington took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, but their defense struggled after that, allowing three unanswered goals to the Hurricanes. Two of those came in the second period, and another was an empty-netter with just 9 seconds left in the third. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the Capitals’ defense allowed 44 shots on goal.

The Capitals have posted a 3-0 record in their previous three games. Against the spread, they have gone 1-2 and logged an over-under record of 2-1 in these games.
Through their last ten regular season contests, Washington has a record of 6-4. In these contests, the team went just 3-7 against the spread, while going 7-3 on the over-under.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a straight moneyline bet, then the Capitals are the way to go. However, with a payout of -241, you might consider using this bet as a leg of a parlay.

My recommended pick for the puck line is to take the Kraken to cover. Even if the Capitals win straight-up, this one should be close throughout and the Kraken should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Capitals Look to Keep Rolling at Home Against Kraken

The Washington Capitals (33-24-8) will try to extend their three-game winning streak when they host the Seattle Kraken (29-29-6) on Sunday afternoon in Washington, D.C.

Washington is coming off a dominant 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, where they erased a third-period deficit with four unanswered goals. Meanwhile, Seattle bounced back from a tough stretch with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Washington’s Offense Surging in Three-Game Streak

The Capitals entered their current winning stretch after a three-game losing skid, and the turnaround has been sparked by improved offensive production.

Aliaksei Protas led the charge on Friday, tallying two goals and one assist in the third period as Washington rallied.

“It’s a pretty nice boost for our confidence moving forward,” Protas said. “I think we had a good second period. I think we had many good chances to tie the game, but it wasn’t there. In the third finally we broke it down and got a big win for us.”

Protas has been one of the NHL’s most improved players this season, registering 25 goals and 54 points in 63 games, after scoring just six goals in 78 games last season.

Tom Wilson added a goal and an assist, while Taylor Raddysh and Jakob Chychrun also found the back of the net against Detroit.

Of course, Alex Ovechkin remains the biggest storyline in Washington. He is now 10 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894. With 32 goals this season, Ovechkin has continued to defy age, and his next point will make him just the 11th player in NHL history to reach 1,600 career points.

Seattle Looks to Build Momentum After Win Over Flyers

The Kraken have struggled recently, losing four of their last six games (2-4-0). However, their 4-1 victory in Philadelphia on Saturday was a much-needed confidence boost.

Matty Beniers led the way with a goal and an assist, while Tye Kartye and Chandler Stephenson (short-handed goal) helped Seattle take control late in the second period.

Former Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer made 23 saves, securing his first NHL win since Dec. 30 after spending time in the AHL with Coachella Valley.

“I haven’t played in a long time in this league, so it’s definitely a different pace,” Grubauer said. “But guys helped me out a ton, blocked a lot of shots (15). Happy to be back, happy to get the win.”

Kartye’s goal was his first since Dec. 5 and his first game back after a conditioning stint in the AHL.

Seattle’s defensive effort was particularly impressive, holding the Flyers to just four shots on goal in the third period.

Key Players to Watch

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin – 32 goals this season, 10 away from Gretzky’s record.
Aliaksei Protas – 25 goals, coming off a two-goal, three-point night.
Tom Wilson – Physical presence with a recent offensive spark.

Seattle Kraken

Matty Beniers – Goal and assist last game, looking to build momentum.
Philipp Grubauer – Former Capitals goalie earned his first NHL win in months.
Tye Kartye – Scored in his return, aiming to keep rolling.

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Final Prediction & Outlook

Washington has the momentum, riding a three-game winning streak and enjoying strong offensive production. The Kraken, however, are playing on short rest after a Saturday afternoon game and could be at a disadvantage.

With Ovechkin pushing toward history, and the Capitals gaining confidence, Washington should have the edge at home.

Prediction: Capitals 4, Kraken 2.

Washington Capitals vs Seattle Kraken Picks and Predictions March 9th 2025