The Washington Capitals (21-15-5), coming off a 4-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators, host the Chicago Blackhawks (15-18-7) at Capital One Arena on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Blackhawks defeated the Dallas Stars 4-3 in their last outing.
Sign up for ESPN+ today to watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more.
As hockey play continues, get ready for the matchup by checking out which club we project to win Saturday's game.
The Blackhawks have put up a 2-7-1 record during their last 10 games. They have scored 22 total goals (four power-play goals on 24 power-play opportunities during that time, for a conversion rate of 16.7%) while conceding 35 goals to their opponents.
Capitals vs. Blackhawks Predictions for Saturday
Our computer projection model for this contest calls for a final tally of Capitals 4, Blackhawks 2.
- Moneyline Pick: Capitals (-268)
- Total Pick: No Pick - Predicted Margin Negligible
- Spread Pick: Capitals (-1.5)
Watch 1,000+ out-of-market NHL games, ESPN+ Hockey Night & more streaming all season on ESPN+.
Capitals Splits and Trends
- The Capitals are 2-5-7 in overtime games on their way to a 21-15-5 overall record.
- Washington is 5-4-1 (11 points) in its 10 games decided by one goal.
- In the five games this season the Capitals scored only one goal, they've finished 1-4-0 (two points).
- Washington has taken seven points from the seven games this season when it scored two goals (2-2-3 record).
- The Capitals have scored at least three goals in 27 games (18-7-2, 38 points).
- In the 15 games when Washington has scored a single power-play goal, it has a 10-5-0 record (20 points).
- In the 20 games when it outshot its opponent, Washington is 11-7-2 (24 points).
- The Capitals' opponents have had more shots in 17 games. The Capitals finished 9-6-2 in those contests (20 points).
Blackhawks Splits and Trends
- The Blackhawks have a 2-7-9 record in overtime matchups this season and a 15-18-7 overall record.
- In the 16 games Chicago has played that were decided by one goal, it racked up 14 points.
- This season the Blackhawks scored only one goal in five games and they lost every time.
- Chicago has earned seven points (2-5-3 record) this season when scoring exactly two goals .
- The Blackhawks have scored at least three goals 22 times, earning 30 points from those matchups (13-5-4).
- This season, Chicago has recorded a single power-play goal in 17 games has a record of 7-6-4 in those matchups.
- When outshooting its opponent this season, Chicago is 6-4-3 (15 points).
- The Blackhawks have been outshot by opponents in 26 games, going 9-13-4 to record 22 points.
Looking for NHL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live.
Team Stats Comparison
| Capitals Rank | Capitals AVG | Blackhawks AVG | Blackhawks Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9th | 3.24 | Goals Scored | 2.78 | 24th |
| 8th | 2.78 | Goals Allowed | 3.18 | 20th |
| 8th | 29.1 | Shots | 25 | 30th |
| 13th | 27.7 | Shots Allowed | 30 | 28th |
| 28th | 15.97% | Power Play % | 21.05% | 12th |
| 25th | 76.74% | Penalty Kill % | 83.46% | 5th |
Capitals vs. Blackhawks Game Time and TV Channel
- When: Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply)
- Where: Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
Sign up for ESPN+ to watch the Capitals square off against Blackhawks.