Washington Capitals Odds
Washington Capitals bets are legal and safe at Virginia’s 15 sportsbooks. Those moneyline bets on the Caps haven’t paid off lately, however. The team was swept by the New York Rangers in the first round of NHL playoffs. Capitals fans will have to wait for next season to place bets on the team.
NHL hockey bets are still an excellent option from home, from your favorite tavern or at the sportsbook inside Capital One Arena.
Virginia fans who see a Caps game in person will have access to both a betting window and betting apps on their phone.
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Capitals player props and futures
Each time the Capitals step on the ice, you can bet on the outcome of the game and dozens of events or outcomes within it. Sportsbooks release NHL game lines with plenty of time to spare, but the odds can fluctuate before the puck drops for the opening faceoff. There are also several other popular markets to explore, including props and futures.
Prop bets are “game within the game” bets on specific accomplishments. Futures bets are on how the entire season might play out. Let’s take a closer look at how they both work.
You can generally find props at online sportsbooks or apps by clicking through on the individual game listings. Once you do that, you’ll see all of the bets available. Prop bets usually revolve around players, teams or the game as a whole. Here are some examples.
- How many goals plus assists will Alex Ovechkin have — over/under 1.5?
- Which side will have more shots in the game — Capitals or Penguins?
- Player to score the game’s first goal? (You’ll see odds for everyone in the lineup, ranging from favorites to longshots).
For futures, you can place your bets on how you think the Capitals will do for the season as a whole. Odds for futures come out in the offseason, and many of the biggest markets stay active all year round. Here are some futures odds to consider.
- Bet on the Capitals to win the Stanley Cup, conference and division.
- Over/under on Capitals regular season wins.
- Capitals players to win Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, etc.
As bets flow in, futures odds fluctuate. It’s good practice to check futures odds regularly, but you also can simply bet once and hold your ticket with the long-term view in mind.
Caps recent draft picks/prospects
Here’s how the Capitals spent their draft picks in the past few years:
- 2023: Ryan Leonard, RW, USA U-18
- 2022: Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, Omsk Kylia (Russia)
- 2021: No first round pick: Vincent Iorio, D, was their second-round pick
- 2020: Hendrix Lapierre, C, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
- 2019: Connor McMichael, C, London Knights
- 2018: Alexander Alexeyev, D, Red Deer Rebels
The Capitals have been a contender for several years running, and that doesn’t happen unless a team drafts well. Looking back, the team formed its core by nailing several of its selections.
- 2015: Ilya Samsonov, Round 1, Pick 22
- 2010: Evgeny Kuznetsov — Round 1, Pick 26
- 2008: John Carlson — Round 1, Pick 27
- 2006: Nicklas Backstrom — Round 1, Pick 4
- 2004: Alex Ovechkin — Round 1, Pick 1
The club has complemented its solid draft record with key free agent acquisitions and trades through the years. Add it all up, and it’s not too tough to see why the team has qualified for the postseason in 14 of the last 15 seasons.
Caps coaches/bench staff
The Caps hired Spencer Carbery as their 20th head coach in 2023. He spent a few seasons as an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs. Rounding out the coaching staff are:
- Assistant coaches: Scott Allen, Mitch Love, Kirk Muller, Kenny McCudden
- Goaltending coach: Scott Murray
- Assistant coach, video: Brett Leonhardt
Trotz led the team to the Stanley Cup in 2018 and a pair of Presidents’ Trophies during his tenure, while Boudreau snagged a Presidents’ Trophy during his time, as well. Trotz and Boudreau won the Jack Adams Award for top NHL coach in 2016 and 2008, respectively.
Where is the Caps’ arena?
When the Capitals entered the NHL in 1974, they played home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. The 18,130-seat facility would remain as home base until 1997, which was the year that the team’s new digs opened up.
Formerly known as the MCI Center from 1997-2006 and as the Verizon Center from 2006-17, here’s what you need to know about the venue for Capitals home games.
- Name: Capital One Arena
- Address: 601 F St. NW
- City: Washington, DC 20004
- Owner: Monumental Sports & Entertainment
- Capacity: 20,656
- Ground breaking: Oct. 18, 1995
- Opening date: Dec. 2, 1997
- Construction cost: $260 million
- Other tenants: Washington Wizards, Georgetown Hoyas
How to watch/listen to Caps games
NBC Sports Washington is the broadcast home for Washington Capitals games. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin call the action, while Alan May and Al Koken report from rinkside.
NBCSW is a part of numerous cable, satellite and streaming packers in the DC-Virginia area, but you should confirm availability prior to subscribing to make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
NHL games are also carried by national outlets, so you might catch a Caps game there, as well. NBC, NBCSN and NHL Network are the best places to look. Subscription service ESPN+ also covers select NHL contests throughout the season.
During the postseason, other channels in the NBCUniversal family may carry playoff games as well, a list that includes USA Network. NBC Sports Washington also provides a live stream of Capitals games online, as well as via the NBC Sports Live app.
For another streaming option, check out NHL.tv. It’s a subscription service that carries feeds of games, but note that local blackout rules may apply when the game is carried elsewhere.
On the radio side, 106.7 WJFK-FM — also known as The Fan — out of Manassas, Va., is the flagship station for Capitals games. John Walton and Ken Sabourin handle the coverage for the broadcasts, while Ben Raby serves as the studio host.
The feed of the games is picked up by a number of other stations across the region, so you shouldn’t have any trouble picking it up in your area.
- WFED-AM 1500 — Washington, DC
- WTHU-AM 1450 — Frederick/Thurmont, MD
- WFTR-AM 1450 — Front Royal, VA
- WBRG-AM 1050 — Lynchburg, VA
- WLVA-AM 580 — Lynchburg, VA
- WRNL-AM 910 — Richmond, VA
- WHAP-AM 1340 — Hopewell, VA
- WHAJ-FM 104.5 — Bluefield, WV
- WKAV-FM 94.1 — Charlottesville, VA
- WRNR-AM 740 — Martinsburg, WV
- WOYK-AM 1350 — York, PA
You can also find the audio feed for Capitals games through the TuneIn radio app, or at CapsRadio247.com.
Brief Capitals history
From 1974 to the present, it has been a long and winding road for the Capitals. While the team has made it to the postseason numerous times over that span, there is just one Stanley Cup title on the resume. Here’s a look at some of the key dates in franchise history.
- 1974: Capitals join the NHL as an expansion franchise.
- 1982: Club swings a trade with the Montreal Canadiens that changes the course of the franchise, headlined by the acquisition of Rod Langway.
- 1983: Team makes postseason for first time, losing to the New York Islanders in division semifinals.
- 1989: Capitals capture first division crown in team history, winning the Patrick Division with 92 points.
- 1990: Team reaches conference finals, where it is swept in four games by the Boston Bruins.
- 1997: Capitals move into the newly built MCI Center.
- 1997: Team streak of 14 consecutive postseason appearances is snapped.
- 1998: Capitals reach Stanley Cup final for first time in team history, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in four games.
- 2004: Capitals select Alexander Ovechkin with the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft.
- 2008: Ovechkin wins the first of three Hart Memorial trophies, also winning the award in 2009 and 2013.
- 2010: Capitals win the first of three Presidents’ trophies as top team in the regular season, also winning in 2016 and 2017.
- 2018: The Capitals finally win their first Stanley Cup with a five-game series win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Capitals have contributed plenty to NHL lore through the years, and a number of all-time greats have suited up for the franchise. Here are some of the more notable team and player facts and records from Capitals history.
- Stanley Cups: One, 2017-18
- Conference championships: Two, last in 2017-18
- Presidents Trophies: Three, last in 2016-17
- Division titles: 13, last in 2019-20
- Playoff appearances: 32, last in 2021-22
- Most points in season: 121, 2009-10
- Fewest points in season: 21, in the 1974-75 inaugural season
- Most goals in season: 65, Alex Ovechkin in 2007-08
- Most assists in season: 76, Dennis Maruk in 1981-82
- Most wins in season: 48, Braden Holtby in 2015-16
- Hall of Famers: Eight, most recently Sergei Fedorov and Phil Housley in 2015
- Retired numbers: Four, last for Mike Gartner in 2008
Unsurprisingly, Ovechkin is all over the Capitals record book. The franchise great shouldn’t have to wait too long for his number to hang from the rafters, or for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame once he hangs up the skates for the final time.
Washington Capitals FAQ
The Capitals are owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, a group led by Ted Leonsis. Back in 1999, Leonsis paid roughly $85 million to acquire the team. He also purchased a stake in Washington Sports & Entertainment, the holding company of previous owner Abe Pollin. Leonsis has since gone on to also become the owner of the Washington Wizards and several other local teams.
On the low end, you can get single-game tickets in the cheap seats for $20, while private suites can run into the thousands. The average price for game tickets is $118, but prices can vary depending on the opponent, day and game time.
The Capitals won their only Stanley Cup in 2018, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights four games to one. The team made it to the finals in 1998 before being swept by the Detroit Red Wings. The club has made it as far as the conference finals one other time, losing to the Boston Bruins in four games in 1990.
According to the latest NHL franchise valuations from Forbes, the Capitals carry a price tag of $930 million. That leaves them in 11th place among NHL clubs. The New York Rangers top the list at $2 billion, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs at $1.8 billion and the Montreal Canadiens at $1.6 billion. The Arizona Coyotes bring up the rear in 31st place with a value of $400 million.
Washington has retired four numbers to date.
- 5: D Rod Langway, 1982-93. Retired in 1997.
- 7: D Yvon Labre, 1974-80. Retired in 1980.
- 11: RW Mike Gartner, 1979-89. Retired in 2008.
- 32: C Dale Hunter, 1987-99. Retired in 2000.
The official Twitter handle for the Washington Capitals is @Capitals. The team could previously be found @washcaps, but the handle was changed in 2016. Washington also maintains a presence on other major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
That honor belongs to franchise legend Alex Ovechkin, whose jersey consistently ranks as one of the best-selling year after year. Since being selected with the top overall pick by the Caps in 2004, Ovechkin has rewritten the team record books, earned numerous individual honors and helped lead the team to its first Stanley Cup title in 2018.
The Caps will be relying on the talent of Darcy Kuemper who was signed in the offseason from the World Champion Colorado Avalanche. Kuemper’s back-up, Charlie Lindgren, was signed in the offseason from the St. Louis Blues.