Washington Capitals vs Chicago Blackhawks Betting Pick & Prediction for Friday, January 9, 2026

bangthebook nhl game preview

The Washington Capitals travel to the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks in an NHL regular season game. The Capitals come into this game with a record of 22-16-6. They sit in fifth place in the Eastern Metropolitan Division. Their head coach, Spencer Carbery, will look to add another win to their season tally.

On the other side, the Chicago Blackhawks hold an 18-18-7 record. They are sixth in the Western Central Division. Head coach Jeff Blashill will aim to guide his team to a win on home ice. The game will be broadcast on NHLN and is set to start at 8:00 PM on January 9, 2026.

Capitals vs Blackhawks Game Day Info

  • Sport: NHL
  • Teams: Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks
  • Venue: United Center
  • Date: January 9, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Washington Capitals MoneyLine -149, Chicago Blackhawks MoneyLine +125

Washington Capitals Team Preview

The Washington Capitals have had mixed results in their recent games. They won against the Anaheim Ducks with a score of 7-4 but lost to the Dallas Stars 4-1. Another recent game saw them fall to the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2.

Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson have been key players for the Capitals. Ovechkin scored one goal against Dallas and two against Anaheim. Wilson also had strong performances, including a two-goal game against the New York Rangers.

In goal, Charlie Lindgren has been active for the Capitals. He made 41 saves against Anaheim but allowed four goals. Lindgren was also in the net for the games against Chicago and Ottawa, where the team lost by a single goal in each contest.

Chicago Blackhawks Team Preview

The Chicago Blackhawks are coming off a strong performance against the St. Louis Blues. They won the game 7-3 and had 35 shots on goal. Three of their goals came from power plays.

In their recent games, the Blackhawks have shown they can win close games. They edged out the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 at home. They also secured a 3-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on the road.

Key players for the Blackhawks include Connor Bedard and Tyler Bertuzzi. Bedard has 44 points this season, while Bertuzzi has 34 points. Spencer Knight, the team’s goalie, has made significant saves across 30 games.

BTB Betting Pick

The Washington Capitals are the favorites with a moneyline of -149. They have scored 143 goals this season, ranking 6th. Chicago Blackhawks have a moneyline of +125 and rank 17th in goals. Given these stats, the Capitals are likely to win. The projected score is Washington 4, Chicago 3.

The over/under for this game is set at 6.0. Washington’s offense and Chicago’s defense indicate a high-scoring game. The Capitals have a strong goal-scoring record, while the Blackhawks have allowed 130 goals. Betting on the over at 6.0 (-110) is a reasonable choice.