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Capitals vs. Red Wings prediction: Tight battle projected in updated analysis for Sunday's NHL matchup [12/21/2025]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Washington Capitals vs Detroit Red Wings predictions for NHL Sunday.
The Detroit Red Wings will square off with the Washington Capitals, in what is expected to be a tight NHL game, at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, beginning at 1:00 PM ET.
Based on updated simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model gives an equal chance for both both teams to win the Capitals-Red Wings matchup.
This article offers further insights into Sunday's Capitals vs. Red Wings matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Caps vs. Red Wings prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Sunday's NHL game between the Capitals and Red Wings 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model currently can't split the two teams, giving both the Capitals and Red Wings a 50% chance of winning the game.
According to our model, the Capitals (+1.5) have a 71% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has a 51% chance of going over.
Capitals vs. Red Wings odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Capitals | Red Wings |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-250) | -1.5 (+220) |
| Moneyline | -102 | -115 |
| Total | o6 (-110) | u6 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Capitals vs. Red Wings picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best available 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 | -250 |
| Moneyline | Capitals | -102 |
| Total | Over 6 | -110 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Capitals to win.
Capitals vs. Red Wings player props
Who will score a goal in Capitals vs. Red Wings?
According to our model, Alex DeBrincat is most likely to score an anytime goal in Capitals vs. Red Wings.
Our projections give DeBrincat a 40.0% chance of scoring a goal at Little Caesars Arena, while the star is a 7.6% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Washington Capitals
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 35.6% |
| Tom Wilson | 30.6% |
| Aliaksei Protas | 29.0% |
| Dylan Strome | 26.9% |
| Jakob Chychrun | 24.2% |
Detroit Red Wings
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex DeBrincat | 40.0% |
| Dylan Larkin | 33.9% |
| Lucas Raymond | 29.4% |
| James van Riemsdyk | 19.5% |
| Emmitt Finnie | 16.7% |
First goal scorer predictions
Washington Capitals
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 7.1% |
| Tom Wilson | 5.7% |
| Aliaksei Protas | 5.5% |
| Jakob Chychrun | 4.8% |
| Dylan Strome | 4.7% |
Detroit Red Wings
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex DeBrincat | 7.6% |
| Dylan Larkin | 6.3% |
| Lucas Raymond | 5.8% |
| Emmitt Finnie | 3.1% |
| James van Riemsdyk | 3.1% |
Caps vs. Red Wings game-day updates and essential details
Sunday's game between the Red Wings and Capitals at Little Caesars Arena is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM ET.
- Who: Washington Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings
- Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
- Time: 1:00 PM ET/10:00AM PT
- Venue: Little Caesars Arena
Conclusion
We predict a close game between the Capitals and Red Wings on Sunday, with each team having a 50% chance of winning.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Capitals vs. Red Wings 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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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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