NHL Game Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals with Line Combinations 3/7/2025

Detroit Red Wings (30-26-6, 66 Points) at Washington Capitals (40-14-8, 88 pts)

Venue: Capital One Arena
Date: Friday, March 7
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN+/FDSNDET/MNMT
Radio:
Detroit – WXYT 97.1 FM
Washington Capitals – WJFK 106.7 FM / WFED 1500 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Detroit +1.5 ML -100
Washington +1.5 ML +105
O/U 6

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Detroit Red Wings News & Notes:

The Red Wings dropped their fourth straight in a 4-2 loss to Utah. It appears the Four Nations break came at the wrong time. Since the break the Red Wings are 2-4-1 averaging 2.71 goals per game while allowing 3.86 goals per game.

Washington Capitals News & Notes:

The Capitals have won two straight games with a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers on Wednesday. In their last ten games, they are 6-3-1 averaging 4.10 goals per game while allowing 3.40 goals per game. Alexander Ovechkin is ten goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s goal record.

Detroit Red Wings Projected Lines

Kasper–Larkin–Raymond  
DeBrincat–Compher-Kane
Soderblom-Rasmussen-Tarasenko
Berggren-Motte-

Chiarot–Seider
Edvinsson–Johansson
Gustafsson-Holl

Talbot
Lyon

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Washington Capitals Projected Lines:

Ovechkin-Strome-Protas
McMichael-Dubois-Wilson
Mangiapane-Eller-Raddysh
Duhaime-Dowd-Frank

Sandin-Carlson
Fehervary-Roy
Chychrun-van Riemsdyk

Thompson
Lindgren

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Players To Watch:

Detroit Red Wings

Alex DeBrincat this season has 53 points on 29 goals and 24 assists. He’s faced the Capitals 14 times in his career recording 18 points on 13 goals and five assists; in the meeting earlier this season, he scored two goals.  

Washington Capitals

Alex Ovechkin this season has 49 points on 31 goals and 17 assists. He’s faced the Red Wings 36 times in his career recording 40 points on 25 goals and 15 assists; in meeting earlier this season he scored a goal.  

Injury Report:

Detroit Red Wings

D Jeff Petry – IR
C Andrew Copp – IR

Washington Capitals

LW Sonny Milano – IR
RW TJ Oshie – LTIR
C Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR

Next Up

Detroit: March 10 at Ottawa Senators
Washington: March 9 vs. Seattle Kraken

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.

1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing 32:56
2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos 24:53
3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening 37:46
4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10