Cup-Favored Hurricanes Host Fading Capitals
Capitals vs Hurricanes Betting: Carolina Just 32-44 on Puck Line
With the NHL playoffs just around the corner, the Carolina Hurricanes are in prime position in the Eastern Conference. With 101 points, the Hurricanes have separated themselves with short odds to win the Stanley Cup. Keep in mind, that’s something they have not done since 2006.
Therefore, the Hurricanes must finish strong in the regular season. They return home on Friday to host the Washington Capitals. The Capitals vs Hurricanes betting odds peg Carolina as a -1.5 (-105) favorite on the puck line and -270 on the moneyline. Washington is priced at +220 to win outright. Meanwhile, the total is set at 6.
We break down both NHL teams and assess the odds in our NHL game preview.
Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes 
Records: Capitals (36-29-10), Hurricanes (47-22-7)
Location: PNC Arena; Raleigh, N.C.
Day/Time:
Streaming: NHLPP, ESPN+
Capitals vs Hurricanes Betting Trends
The Washington Capitals are 37-38 against the puck line (ATS), including 17-20 away from home. Washington’s games have trended toward the under, as the Capitals are 34-38-3 against the over/under. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes are 32-44 ATS, including 16-23 at home. As for the over/under, the Hurricanes are 31-44-1.
Remember these trends when assessing the Capitals vs Hurricanes betting odds.
Dog Fight for Playoffs Continues
There is no margin for error for the Capitals. They sit one point out of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with seven regular-season games remaining. The Capitals have dropped four straight, including a 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Oddsmakers have expressed skepticism about the Capitals, pricing them +155 to make the playoffs. By comparison, the Capitals’ closest competitors in the hockey standings all have better odds: Flyers (-115), Red Wings (-115), and Islanders (+110).
The Capitals are now back on the road, where they are 16-17-4 per hockey scores.
Save for Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, scoring has been an issue. The Capitals have only six goals over their last four games and rank 26th in the NHL in scoring (2.67 goals per game). On top of that, their power play (PP) has underperformed, finding success just 21.2% of the time — good for 17th in the league.
Strome’s 62 points (26 goals, 36 assists) are a team-high, slightly ahead of Ovechkin’s 60 (27-33).
Washington’s goaltending hasn’t fared much better. Charlie Lindgren and Darcy Kuemper combine for a pedestrian 89.8% save percentage. Altogether, the Capitals rank 19th in goals against average (3.16).
Cup Favorites in Carolina
The Hurricanes have solidified themselves as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. They are one of four teams in the Eastern Conference to crack 100 points. With six regular-season games remaining, the Hurricanes sit five points behind the Rangers in the Metropolitan Division. They are tied for third in the East.
Oddsmakers are bullish on the Hurricanes, pricing them +300 to win the East and +650 to win the Stanley Cup. Florida and Colorado are Carolina’s closest competitors at 7/1.
The Hurricanes have won eight of their last 11 games but are coming off a 4-1 loss to Boston on Thursday. Frederick Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov traded shutouts in the previous two games.
Carolina is potent offensively, led by Sebastian Aho. It ranks eighth in the NHL in scoring (3.34 goals per game) and third on the PP, with the “Canes” converting 26.8% of their chances on the man advantage. The Canes also have the best penalty kill unit in the league (86%) and have the second-best goal differential in the East at plus-53.
Aho is Carolina’s leading scorer with 33 goals and 85 points. He is also a team-best plus-minus of +28.
Handicapping the Game
Washington is 2-1 against Carolina this season with both victories coming in shootouts. The Capitals’ 7-6 win on March 22 was among the highest-scoring games in the NHL this season.
The Hurricanes should have a decisive edge at home, where they are 25-10-4 straight-up but just 16-23 ATS. The Hurricanes’ 32-44 record ATS is among the worst in the NHL, ahead of only the Devils (27-48) and Maple Leafs (30-43).
Despite their success, the Hurricanes have also struggled against the over/under. They have gone under the total in five straight games for a season rate of 57.8%.
The total has also gone under in four of the last six games between these teams. Keep that in mind when analyzing the Capitals vs Hurricanes betting odds.
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