Washington Capitals vs Ottawa Senators March 3rd 2025

Betting on today’s Senators and Capitals game? Catch the action at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, as the Capitals hosts this showdown at 6:30 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 5.5 goals, with the Capitals being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Senators.

Ottawa vs. Washington Key Information

• Teams: Senators at Capitals
• Where: Capital One Arena Washington
• Date: Monday, March 3rd
• Betting Odds WAS -158 | OTT +134 O/U 5.5

The Senators Can Win If…

Ottawa improved to 30-25-4 with a 3-0 win over the Kraken. The Senators covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 3 fell well short of that mark.

All three of Ottawa’s goals came from different players, with Adam Gaudette opening the scoring at 14:32 in the first period. Brady Tkachuk added another goal in the second, and Tim Stützle sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the third.

Ottawa’s offense produced three goals in their recent matchup against Seattle, with Tim Stützle netting his 6th of the season on an empty net. Adam Gaudette opened the scoring for the Senators, marking his 7th goal of the year, while Brady Tkachuk added another, also his 7th of the season.

The Senators took 23 shots on goal and recorded 11 giveaways. They scored once in each period, with Gaudette’s goal coming at 14:32 in the first period, Tkachuk’s at 8:49 in the second, and Stützle’s empty-netter at 2:14 in the third.

On the defensive side, the Senators will look to carry over their performance from their previous game, where they shut out the Kraken 3-0. Anton Forsberg made 22 saves with a 100% save percentage, and the defense added 2 takeaways, 25 hits, and 14 blocks.

• The Senators have gone 1-2 over their last three regular season games. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Ottawa has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 5-5 in these matchups, while posting a 8-2 over-under mark.

The Capitals Can Win If…

Washington fell to 38-14-8 after a 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes. The Capitals were underdogs on the puck line and the total of 6 goals resulted in a push. Washington led 2-1 after the first period, but the Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals to secure the win.

Both of Washington’s goals came in the first period, with Alex Ovechkin tying the game at 19:16 and Brandon Duhaime adding another at 19:49. The Hurricanes responded with goals in the second and third periods, including an empty-netter with 9 seconds left.

Washington’s offense was held to just two goals in their 4-2 loss to Carolina. Alex Ovechkin netted his 7th goal of the season on a power play, while Brandon Duhaime added his 2nd goal. The Capitals took 21 shots on goal and recorded 15 giveaways.

Both of Washington’s goals came in the first period, with Duhaime scoring at the 19:49 mark and Ovechkin finding the net earlier at 19:16. Nic Dowd picked up his 2nd assist of the season, and Dylan Strome now has 13 assists after helping on Ovechkin’s power-play goal.

Washington’s defense gave up the first goal of the game at 5:59 in the first period, and after taking a 2-1 lead, they allowed three unanswered goals, including two in the second period and one in the third. The final goal was an empty-netter with 9 seconds left. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves with a 93.2% save percentage, but the defense had just 2 takeaways and 20 hits.

• Across Washington’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 0-3. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 0-3 and an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Across Washington’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. The team’s record vs the puck line was just 4-6, in addition to an over-under mark of 8-2.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Capitals to come out with a win against the Senators while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -158, I’m placing my bet on the Capitals to win outright.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Senators to cover. Even if the Capitals manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Senators should cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 5.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

Bet Smarter on the NHL !

Start Winning Today!

Get Free Trial

Capitals Not Panicking Despite Losing Streak

The Washington Capitals find themselves in an unfamiliar situation—riding a season-long three-game losing streak—as they prepare to host the Ottawa Senators on Monday night.

Despite the recent struggles, Washington remains in a strong position in the Eastern Conference, holding a 12-point lead over Carolina and New Jersey in the Metropolitan Division. They also sit seven points ahead of Florida for the top overall spot in the East.

Forward Tom Wilson acknowledged the team’s frustration but insisted there is no reason to overreact.

“You can call that a skid if you want,” Wilson said after Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay, a game in which the Lightning extended their own winning streak to eight games. “It’s three games. We don’t like it, but we’ve had a consistent year.”

Washington has been one of the NHL’s most potent offensive teams, leading the league with 215 goals scored. Wilson emphasized that ups and downs are inevitable over a long season.

“We’re not panicking right now. We love the group in here. Just got to find a way to get back on track,” he said. “We’re doing good things. Just sometimes you lose a few in a row, and we’ve got to correct it as soon as possible.”

Ovechkin Continues March Toward NHL Goal Record

One player who has remained red-hot for Washington is Alex Ovechkin.

The Russian superstar scored his 31st goal of the season against Tampa Bay, giving him five goals in his last four games. His third-period goal on Saturday briefly cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 2-1 before an empty-netter sealed Washington’s fate.

Ovechkin now sits just 11 goals shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record of 894.

“I don’t think we played bad this game,” Ovechkin said. “We just have to bounce back right away. Next game we just have to respond.”

Senators Look to Build on Comeback Win

Ottawa arrives in Washington on a high note after snapping a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over San Jose on Saturday.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, the Senators rallied with four goals, a much-needed confidence boost as they push for a playoff spot.

Forward Tim Stutzle led the way, scoring a goal and adding an assist to extend his point streak to 11 games.

“It’s huge,” said Stutzle, who also matched the franchise record for longest assist streak at 10 games. “We had a lot of faith in us (heading into the final period). We had chances, I think, on the power play especially, and we just couldn’t capitalize. Ully (goaltender Linus Ullmark) was great to keep us in the game.”

Linus Ullmark made 34 saves, securing his first win since December 19 after missing six weeks with an injury.

Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto both returned from injuries and made an immediate impact, each scoring a goal.

Tkachuk, who missed two games with a lower-body injury suffered during the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, knows the importance of every game down the stretch.

“Being down going into the third, and just still finding a way to get the job done, just a big two points,” Tkachuk said. “I mean, playoff hockey starts now, so you’ve got to win these games to get into the dance.”

Want to compare betting lines before locking in your picks? Visit the NHL Odds Page for the latest spreads, moneylines, and totals!

Season Series: Senators vs. Capitals

Monday’s game marks the final regular-season meeting between Washington and Ottawa.

• Jan. 16 (in Ottawa): Washington won 1-0 in overtime, with Logan Thompson making 24 saves and Ovechkin scoring the game-winner.
• Jan. 30 (in Ottawa): Ottawa responded with a 5-4 overtime victory, as Thomas Chabot netted the winner on a breakaway.

Now, with both teams desperate for points in the playoff race, this final meeting could have a significant impact on the standings.

Key Matchups to Watch

Alex Ovechkin vs. Ottawa’s Defense
Ovechkin is on fire, and Ottawa’s blueliners will have their hands full trying to contain him. His ability to capitalize on power plays and create scoring chances will be a major factor.

Tim Stutzle vs. Washington’s Defense
Stutzle has been the catalyst for Ottawa’s offense, leading an 11-game point streak. If Washington cannot slow him down, the Senators will have a strong chance to pull off another upset.

Linus Ullmark vs. Darcy Kuemper
Ullmark was stellar in his last outing, stopping 34 shots. Washington’s Darcy Kuemper will need to match that level of play to keep the Capitals from dropping a fourth straight game.

What’s at Stake?

For Washington, snapping their three-game losing streak is key to maintaining control of the Eastern Conference standings. A win would help restore confidence and prevent the slide from becoming a bigger issue.

For Ottawa, a victory would move them closer to Detroit for the final wild-card spot, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

With both teams needing a result, expect a physical, high-energy battle at Capital One Arena. Will the Capitals get back on track, or can the Senators continue their push toward the postseason? The answer comes Monday night.