On Saturday, the Washington Capitals (17-6-2) face off against the Montreal Canadiens (9-13-3) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Montreal comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games prior to their game against Nashville. In an exciting 2-1 overtime victory against the New York Islanders, Sam Montembeault delivered an impressive performance for the Montreal Canadiens by stopping 30 shots on goal. This season, Nick Suzuki has emerged as the leading point-getter for the Canadiens, amassing a total of 26 points. Close on his heels is Cole Caufield, who ranks as the team's second-highest scorer with 23 points. Notably, Caufield shines as Montreal's top goal-scorer with 16 goals to his name so far this season. Both Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson have been instrumental in setting up plays, each contributing 16 assists to tie as the team's assist leaders. In their recent stretch of five games, the Canadiens have been struggling defensively, allowing an average of 3.4 goals per game, which has kept them anchored at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings. As they prepare to face the Washington Capitals at home, Montreal hopes to harness the momentum from their recent win. Presently, the Canadiens are averaging 2.8 goals per game across the season.

Washington enters this game on a one-game losing streak, but has won four of their last five games prior to their game against Toronto. In a closely contested match that ended in a 2-1 overtime defeat to the San Jose Sharks, Logan Thompson made an impressive 29 saves for the Washington Capitals. Throughout this season, Dylan Strome has emerged as the leading point scorer for Washington, accumulating a total of 34 points. Trailing him is Alex Ovechkin, who has so far collected 25 points, making him the second-highest scorer on the team. Ovechkin, however, leads Washington in goals scored, having netted 15 goals this season. On the playmaking front, Dylan Strome has stood out for the Capitals with an impressive 26 assists, providing significant support to his teammates. In their recent five-game stretch, the Capitals have been firing on all cylinders, averaging 4.2 goals per game, which has helped them claim the top spot in the Metropolitan Division standings. With this momentum, Washington is eager to translate their leading position into a victory on the road against the Montreal Canadiens. Overall, the Capitals maintain a strong offensive performance, averaging 4.1 goals per game throughout the season.

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