Chicago Blackhawks vs Washington Capitals: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/23/2023

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Where to watch: NBCSWA, NBCSCH

DraftKings: Capitals -240, Blackhawks +200

BetMGM: Capitals -240, Blackhawks +200

Caesars: Capitals -240, Blackhawks +200

Blackhawks: 24-40-6

Capitals: 33-31-8

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On March 23, 2023, the Chicago Blackhawks will be taking on the Washington Capitals in a highly anticipated NHL matchup. The game will be held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois and is set to be an exciting match-up between two competitive teams in their respective conferences.

The Blackhawks, who currently sit in fifth place in the Central Division with a record of 22-19-6, will be looking to bounce back from a recent slump in form. They have struggled in recent weeks, winning only two of their last ten games. However, despite their recent struggles, the Blackhawks have a strong offensive line led by the likes of Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.

Kane has been one of the most consistent performers for the Blackhawks this season, leading the team in points with 63 (25 goals and 38 assists). He has been instrumental in the team's offensive play, creating chances and setting up his teammates with regularity. DeBrincat has also been a key contributor on the offensive end, scoring 24 goals and 20 assists so far this season.

Defensively, the Blackhawks have struggled at times this season, giving up an average of 3.25 goals per game, which is one of the highest averages in the league. However, they have made some improvements in recent weeks, conceding just 2.6 goals per game in their last five games.

On the other hand, the Washington Capitals come into the game with a record of 27-12-7, placing them in first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals have been one of the most consistent teams in the league this season, winning six of their last ten games. They are led by their superstar captain Alexander Ovechkin, who has been in excellent form this season, scoring 22 goals and 19 assists so far.

The Capitals' offensive play has been impressive this season, averaging 3.35 goals per game, which is one of the highest in the league. They also have a balanced scoring attack, with players such as Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie chipping in with important goals and assists.

Defensively, the Capitals have been solid this season, giving up just 2.6 goals per game on average, which is one of the best in the league. They have a strong defensive pairing in John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov, who have been instrumental in their team's success this season.

In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Blackhawks and Capitals have played each other once this season, with the Capitals coming out on top with a score of 4-3. However, the Blackhawks won both of their matchups against the Capitals last season.

This upcoming game promises to be an exciting and closely contested matchup between two highly competitive teams. The Blackhawks will be looking to get back to winning ways and secure a crucial victory at home, while the Capitals will be looking to continue their excellent form and maintain their position at the top of the Metropolitan Division.

To secure a victory, the Blackhawks will need to be at their best defensively and limit the Capitals' offensive play. They will also need to be clinical in front of goal and take advantage of their opportunities when they arise.

The Capitals, on the other hand, will be looking to continue their excellent offensive play and create plenty of chances. They will also need to be solid defensively and limit the Blackhawks' offensive opportunities.

Overall, this promises to be an exciting and highly anticipated matchup between two competitive teams in the NHL. With both teams possessing strong offensive lines and solid defensive units, it should be a closely contested game that could go either way.

Prediction

Capitals 4, Blackhawks 1

Blackhawks:

Lukas Reichel -- Philipp Kurashev -- Andreas Athanasiou

Tyler Johnson -- Jason Dickinson -- Taylor Raddysh

Boris Katchouk -- Jujhar Khaira -- Joey Anderson

Mike Hardman -- MacKenzie Entwistle -- Buddy Robinson

Caleb Jones -- Seth Jones

Jarred Tinordi -- Connor Murphy

Ian Mitchell -- Nikita Zaitsev

Alex Stalock

Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin -- Dylan Strome -- Tom Wilson

Anthony Mantha -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Craig Smith

Sonny Milano -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie

Conor Sheary -- Nic Dowd -- Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Rasmus Sandin -- Nick Jensen

Alexander Alexeyev -- Martin Fehervary

Matt Irwin -- Gabriel Carlsson

Charlie Lindgren