Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals: NHL Best Bets (5/6)

The Caps and Canes go head to head to kick off their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. Washington has home ice advantage after winning the division and will host the Hurricanes for Game 1 tonight. These two teams played a very interesting regular season series, in which the Capitals and Hurricanes both won two games.

In fact, the home team actually won every match. Back in early November, the Hurricanes hosted Washington, and beat them by a score of 4-2. The Caps led 2-1 after the first period but couldn’t keep up their offense. However they got their revenge at home just before Christmas, beating the Hurricanes 3-1. Then there was nothing for almost four months, before they faced off two more times in April just before the playoffs.

On April 2nd in Raleigh, the Hurricanes smoked the Capitals, beating them 5-1. Carolina led 4-0 late in the 2nd period in a dominating win. But then eight days later, the Capitals beat Carolina at home in a shootout, 5-4. The Canes jumped out to a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes, but then the Caps scored four straight to take a 4-2 lead going into the final frame. Carolina battled and tied things up with two goals, the equalizer with less than two minutes on the clock, but ended up falling in a shootout.

Now we get these two teams battling in the playoffs, and I think we are in for a real treat.

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Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals: Game 1

Matchup Information – Hurricanes vs Capitals

• Venue & Location: Capital One Arena (Washington D.C.)
• Date: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
• Puck Drop: 7:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN

Betting Odds

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Puck Line

• Hurricanes -1.5 (+189)
• Capitals +1.5 (-225)

Money Line

• Hurricanes -135
• Capitals +120

Total

• Over 5.5 (-125)
• Under 5.5 (+109)

While Carolina did take down New Jersey in just five games, it took them double OT in Game 5 at home, plus they lost Game 3 in 2OT on the road. Still, the Canes take over 31 shots per game and allow less than 25, compared to the Capitals who only take and concede around 27. Logan Thompson will need to be an All-Star for the Capitals this series, as I think he faces a lot more action than he did against Montreal.

Overall, in their opening series, I was more impressed with Carolina. Washington also finished Montreal in five games, needing overtime in Game 1 at home after giving up a 2-0 lead in the third. Despite missing Jack Hughes, I think New Jersey is a bit tougher opponent, and that may come to play in this matchup tonight.

Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Best Bets

Hurricanes vs Capitals Prediction: Canes Win, Under 5.5

Best Bets: Under 5.5 (+109) BetOnline

We’re going to take a stab at the under here, although I may talk myself into the Hurricanes’ ML as well. We only had one game between these teams stay under in the regular season, but the Caps just had 3/5 go under this number last series, while the Canes had their first three as well. Ultimately I expect fantastic defense from both teams, as well as good performances from the men between the posts.

I don’t see the Capitals mustering up very many shots. They didn’t have more than 30 against Carolina this season, averaging just 23 per contest. Add in the fact that the Hurricanes gave up just 24 SOGs in regulation to the Devils last series, the Caps may struggle to produce high scoring chances. As for the Carolina offense, sure they will pepper the net, but Thompson has saved 93.6% of shots faced in his L2, giving up just three total goals.

As these two teams try to feel each other out for the first little bit of this game, give me the entire thing to stay under, as a 2-2 overtime matchup will get us there.

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