Capitals vs Penguins Prediction: Lineups, Last Games, Injury Report & Best Picks, Where to Watch – NHL 11 April, 2026

The Washington Capitals visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in a big Metropolitan Division clash at PPG Paints Arena. This game carries extra attention because Washington are still pushing to stay alive in the playoff race, while Pittsburgh are trying to keep their strong late-season form going at home. It also adds another important chapter to the long rivalry between Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.

Washington come into this matchup after a strong 4-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but their recent run has still been uneven overall. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, have built momentum at the right time and enter this contest on a three-game winning streak. With both teams scoring well lately and both defenses giving up chances, this looks like a fast, competitive, and entertaining NHL game.

Capitals vs Penguins Match Details

Match	Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins
League	NHL 2025-26 Season
Date	April 11, 2026
Time	3:00 p.m. ET
Venue	PPG Paints Arena
Location	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV Channel	ABC

Preview Overview

The Capitals have 89 points from 79 games and still have a chance to improve their position in the Metropolitan Division. Washington know every game matters now, and that gives this matchup extra urgency. The Capitals have shown fight in recent games, but they have also looked vulnerable in their own zone, especially against teams that move the puck well and create pressure on special teams.

Pittsburgh sit on 98 points from 79 games and are in a much stronger position in the standings. The Penguins have been one of the hottest attacking teams in the league over the last few games, and their offense has clicked behind players like Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson. Even though the standings pressure is lower for Pittsburgh, this is still a home game against a major rival, and that should keep the energy high.

Metropolitan Division Standings Snapshot

Team	GP	W	L	OT	PTS
Carolina Hurricanes	79	51	22	6	108
Pittsburgh Penguins	79	41	22	16	98
Philadelphia Flyers	79	40	27	12	92
NY Islanders	79	43	31	5	91
Columbus Blue Jackets	79	39	28	12	90
Washington Capitals	79	40	30	9	89

Washington are chasing ground, while Pittsburgh are trying to finish the regular season with rhythm and confidence.

Betting Odds

Market	Odds
Capitals Moneyline	+104 to +105
Penguins Moneyline	-125
Capitals Puck Line	+1.5
Penguins Puck Line	-1.5
Total Goals	6.5

The betting market sees Pittsburgh as a slight favorite at home, but the price is close enough to show that this is still expected to be a competitive game.

Capitals Recent Form

Washington have gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, but the results have not always matched the defensive performances. The Capitals are finding goals, yet they are also allowing too many dangerous chances at even strength. Their recent shutout win over Toronto was encouraging, especially because it showed that this team can still play structured hockey when needed.

Washington Capitals Last 5 Games

Date	Opponent	Result
Apr 9	at Maple Leafs	Win 4-0
Apr 6	vs Rangers	Loss 1-8
Apr 5	at Sabres	Win 6-2
Apr 3	vs Devils	Loss 3-7
Apr 1	at Flyers	Win 6-4

Washington have scored goals in bunches, but they have also had some heavy defensive collapses. That makes Logan Thompson very important again in this matchup.

Penguins Recent Form

Pittsburgh have also gone 6-4 in their last 10 games, but their attack has been even more explosive. The Penguins have scored 5, 5, 9, and 5 goals in four of their last five games, which shows how dangerous this group has become when their top lines get going. Their offense is carrying them, even though the defensive side still gives opponents chances.

Pittsburgh Penguins Last 5 Games

Date	Opponent	Result
Apr 10	vs Devils	Win 5-2
Apr 6	vs Panthers	Win 5-2
Apr 5	vs Panthers	Win 9-4
Apr 3	vs Lightning	Loss 3-6
Apr 1	at Red Wings	Win 5-1

Pittsburgh look sharp going forward, and that is one of the biggest reasons they are favored in this game.

Head-to-Head Record

Pittsburgh have had the edge in recent meetings between these teams. The Penguins have won the last two matchups and six of the last 10 overall meetings.

Recent Capitals vs Penguins Meetings

Date	Result
Nov. 7, 2025	Penguins 5-3 Capitals
Apr. 18, 2025	Penguins 5-2 Capitals
Feb. 22, 2025	Capitals 8-3 Penguins
Jan. 19, 2025	Capitals 4-1 Penguins
Nov. 9, 2024	Penguins 4-2 Capitals

This rivalry always brings intensity, but Pittsburgh’s recent results in the series give them a slight mental edge going into this one.

Projected Lineups

Capitals Projected Lineup

Forward Lines
Alex Ovechkin	Dylan Strome
Anthony Beauvillier
Aliaksei Protas	Ilya Protas
Tom Wilson
Connor McMichael	Pierre-Luc Dubois
Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime	Justin Sourdif
Ivan Miroshnichenko

Defense Pairs
Martin Fehervary	Rasmus Sandin
Jakub Chychrun	Trevor van Riemsdyk
Cole Hutson	Matt Roy

Goalies
Logan Thompson
Mitchell Gibson

Penguins Projected Lineup

Forward Lines
Egor Chinakhov	Sidney Crosby
Bryan Rust
Tommy Novak	Rickard Rakell
Evgeni Malkin
Anthony Mantha	Ben Kindel
Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom	Noel Acciari
Avery Hayes

Defense Pairs
Parker Wotherspoon	Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard	Kris Letang
Ryan Shea	Connor Clifton

Goalies
Arturs Silovs
Stuart Skinner

The projected lineups show where the game could be decided. Washington have size and physical play in their top nine, while Pittsburgh have more natural offensive flow across their first two lines.

Injury Report

Washington are still monitoring Charlie Lindgren, who remains day to day. That likely keeps Logan Thompson in the spotlight again, and he has been a major reason the Capitals have stayed in the race.

Pittsburgh also have a few absences and day-to-day concerns, especially in the bottom six, but their main core is still producing.

Washington Capitals Injury Report

Player	Status
Charlie Lindgren	Day-to-day / Injured

Pittsburgh Penguins Injury Report

Player	Status
Connor Dewar	Day-to-day
Kevin Hayes	Injured
Filip Hallander	Injured
Blake Lizotte	Injured
Jack St. Ivany	Injured
Caleb Jones	Injured

Starting Goalie Outlook

Washington are expected to go with Logan Thompson, and that is a big plus. He has been the more trusted goalie coming into this game and gives the Capitals a chance to survive Pittsburgh’s pressure.

Pittsburgh’s situation is less clear. Stuart Skinner has been expected in some projections, but Arturs Silovs is also in the mix. That uncertainty matters because Washington’s best path to winning is to test Pittsburgh’s goaltending early and often.

Goalie Comparison

Team	Goalie	Notes
Capitals	Logan Thompson	Strong season, key advantage for Washington
Penguins	Stuart Skinner / Arturs Silovs	No fully settled starter, mixed recent form

Key Players to Watch

Washington will once again look toward Alexander Ovechkin for leadership and finishing quality. Tom Wilson has also been highly involved lately, while Jakob Chychrun continues to provide strong two-way value from the blue line. Ryan Leonard is another name to watch because his shot volume has been rising.

For Pittsburgh, Rickard Rakell has been one of the hottest players on the ice. Sidney Crosby remains the heartbeat of the team, especially as a playmaker, and Bryan Rust continues to be a big scoring threat. Erik Karlsson’s puck movement from the back end can also trouble Washington’s defensive structure.

Key Players to Watch Table

Team	Player	Why He Matters
Capitals	Alexander Ovechkin	Big-game scorer and emotional leader
Capitals	Tom Wilson	Brings physicality and offense
Capitals	Ryan Leonard	Strong recent shots trend
Penguins	Sidney Crosby	Elite playmaker in this rivalry
Penguins	Rickard Rakell	In excellent recent scoring form
Penguins	Bryan Rust	Dangerous finisher on top line

Team Stats Snapshot

The numbers from recent games show why many expect goals in this matchup. Washington are averaging 3.6 goals scored and 3.6 goals allowed over their last 10 games. Pittsburgh have been even more aggressive, averaging 4.5 goals scored and 3.8 goals allowed over their last 10.

Last 10 Games Team Comparison

Category	Capitals	Penguins
Record	6-3-1	6-4
Goals Scored Per Game	3.60	4.50
Goals Allowed Per Game	3.60	3.80
Shots Per Game	23.7	27.5
Power-Play Goals Per Game	0.7	0.7
Penalties Per Game	4.8	4.0

Pittsburgh are creating more shots and have looked much more explosive recently, while Washington are more dependent on finishing chances efficiently and getting strong goaltending.

Best Player Props

Rickard Rakell has been one of the safest recent form plays in this game. He has hit the scoresheet consistently and looks well positioned again against a Washington side that has struggled to control chances over the last stretch.

Sidney Crosby’s assist line also stands out because he has been setting the table regularly since returning. On the Capitals side, Ryan Leonard’s shots line has value because of his recent volume, while Rasmus Sandin’s blocked shots line remains a smart support pick due to his heavy minutes.

Best Player Props Table

Player	Prop Pick
Rickard Rakell	Over 0.5 Points
Sidney Crosby	Over 0.5 Assists
Ryan Leonard	Over 1.5 Shots on Goal
Rasmus Sandin	Over 1.5 Blocked Shots

Also see: Cale Makar Injury Update: Avalanche Star Defenseman Expected to Miss More Games but Return Before Playoffs

Best Picks for Capitals vs Penguins

This game can be viewed in two ways. Washington have more urgency and likely the more dependable goaltending option, which makes the Capitals moneyline attractive for bettors looking for underdog value. But Pittsburgh have the better attacking form, stronger recent head-to-head trend, and home ice advantage.

That is why the safest angle may be to focus on player props and total goals rather than only the side.

Best Picks Table

Bet Type	Pick
Best Value Pick	Capitals Moneyline
Safer Team Side	Penguins Moneyline
Total Goals	Over 6.5
Top Player Prop	Rickard Rakell Over 0.5 Points
Alternate Prop	Sidney Crosby Over 0.5 Assists

Where to Watch Capitals vs Penguins

Fans can watch Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins live on ABC. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

How to Watch Table

Detail	Information
TV Channel	ABC
Venue	PPG Paints Arena
Date	April 11, 2026
Time	3:00 p.m. ET

Final Prediction

This game has all the ingredients of a classic Capitals-Penguins battle. Washington still have something meaningful to chase, and Logan Thompson gives them a real chance if he starts and performs at his usual level. The Capitals also looked sharper in their last outing, which should help their confidence.

Still, Pittsburgh’s attack has been too strong to ignore. The Penguins are rolling offensively, they have won three straight, and players like Rakell, Crosby, and Rust are putting constant pressure on opposing defenses. Washington can keep it close, but Pittsburgh’s current scoring touch and home advantage give them a slight edge.

Predicted Score

Team	Score
Washington Capitals	3
Pittsburgh Penguins	4

Pittsburgh Penguins to win 4-3 looks like the best final call, with the over also in play because both teams have shown they can score and concede in the same game.