Before the puck drops at 7:00 PM ET in Thursday’s game between the Washington Capitals and the Minnesota Wild, here are the best bets you should be thinking about, whether you’re wanting to make a single wager or have your eyes set on putting together a parlay.

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Capitals vs. Wild Picks

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Total Pick

Pick OU: Over 5.5 (model projecting 6 goals)

• This season, Washington games have gone over this one’s 5.5-goal total 21 times.
• This season, 18 of Minnesota’s games have featured more than 5.5 goals.
• The Capitals score 3.65 goals per game, compared to the Wild’s average of 2.95, adding up to 1.1 more goals than this contest’s total of 5.5.
• This game’s over/under is 0.2 more than the 5.3 goals these two teams allow per game combined.

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Moneyline Pick

Capitals Moneyline: -148

• The Capitals have won 70.6% of their games when favored on the moneyline this season (12-5).
• Washington is 8-4 when playing with moneyline odds of -148 or shorter (66.7% win percentage).
• The Capitals’ implied moneyline win probability is 59.7% in this contest.

Wild Moneyline: +125

• In 13 games as the underdog on the moneyline, Minnesota has pulled off the upset five times.
• The Wild have four victories in games with moneyline odds of +125 or longer (in nine chances).
• Minnesota has a 44.4% chance to win this game (implied from the moneyline odds).

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Score Prediction

Prediction:
Washington 4, Minnesota 2

Capitals Points Leaders

• A productive offensive player this season for Washington, Dylan Strome has put up 40 points.
• Aliaksei Protas has 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) to add to the team’s scoring efforts.
• Through 37 games, Connor McMichael has proven himself as another option for Washington. He has 30 points (16 goals and 14 assists).
• 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’s 23 goals and 27 assists in 34 contests give him 50 points on the season, making him a key part of his team’s offense.
• Marco Rossi’s 32 points this season, including 14 goals and 18 assists, make him one of the top offensive threats for Minnesota.
• Minnesota’s Matthew Boldy has 31 points, courtesy of 13 goals (third on team) and 18 assists (second).
• Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson is 17-6-3 this season, amassing 713 saves and giving up 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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