Devils vs. Capitals prediction: Why Washington is favored to win Friday's NHL matchup [3/20/2026]

The Washington Capitals will face the New Jersey Devils in NHL action at Capital One Arena on Friday, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Capitals as the most likely winner of the Devils vs. Capitals game.

This article offers further insights into Friday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Devils vs. Caps prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Friday's NHL game between the Devils and Capitals 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our famous predictive model currently gives the Capitals a 55% chance of beating the Devils.

According to our model, the Devils (+1.5) have a 67% chance of covering the puck line, while the over/under total of six goals has a 52% chance of staying under.

Devils vs. Capitals odds

We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Devils	Capitals
Puck Line	+1.5 (-225)	-1.5 (+205)
Moneyline	+105	-125
Total	o6 (-115)	u6 (-105)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Devils vs. Capitals picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Puck Line	Capitals -1.5	+205
Moneyline	Capitals	-125
Total	Under 6	-105

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6 total goals.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Devils vs. Capitals player props

Who will score a goal in Devils vs. Capitals?

According to our model, Nico Hischier is most likely to score an anytime goal in Devils vs. Capitals.

Our projections give Hischier a 32.2% chance of scoring a goal at Capital One Arena, while the star is a 6.6% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

New Jersey Devils

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Nico Hischier	32.2%
Jack Hughes	31.4%
Timo Meier	26.5%
Jesper Bratt	25.1%
Arseny Gritsyuk	20.5%

Washington Capitals

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Alex Ovechkin	29.4%
Aliaksei Protas	28.6%
Dylan Strome	28.1%
Tom Wilson	26.0%
Pierre-Luc Dubois	22.0%

First goal scorer predictions

New Jersey Devils

Player	First Goal Probability
Jack Hughes	6.8%
Nico Hischier	6.6%
Timo Meier	5.0%
Jesper Bratt	4.9%
Arseny Gritsyuk	3.7%

Washington Capitals

Player	First Goal Probability
Alex Ovechkin	5.8%
Tom Wilson	5.2%
Dylan Strome	4.9%
Aliaksei Protas	4.8%
Pierre-Luc Dubois	4.5%

Devils vs. Caps game-day updates and essential details

Friday's matchup between the Capitals and Devils at Capital One Arena is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals
• Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: Capital One Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Capitals, with a 55% win probability, will likely beat the Devils on Friday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Devils vs. Capitals insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are drawn from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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