Hurricanes vs. Capitals Picks and Prediction – 5/6/2025
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Carolina Hurricanes (47-24-11) vs. Washington Capitals (51-23-8)
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
TV: ESPN
Previous Games:
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Hurricanes: Won 4 of 5 in Round 1 vs. New Jersey
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Capitals: Won 4 of 5 in Round 1 vs. Montreal
Head-to-Head:
Carolina took the regular season series 2-1, but Washington has dominated the recent home matchups, winning 11 of their last 13 at Capital One Arena. This is Game 1 of the second round, and both teams enter with momentum, but Washington has been the more balanced unit at both ends of the ice lately.
Carolina Hurricanes Breakdown:
Carolina looked sharp against New Jersey, outscoring the Devils 19-14 in five games. They’ve averaged 3.8 goals per game over their last 10 and are generating plenty of offensive volume (33.3 shots per game), but goaltending is a concern. Frederik Andersen has struggled recently with a 3.07 GAA and .879 SV%, giving up 4 goals in the Game 5 clincher.
Key Players:
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Sebastian Aho: 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in last 10 games
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Seth Jarvis: 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists)
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Andrei Svechnikov: Leads team with 5 playoff goals
Washington Capitals Breakdown:
The Capitals have won 4 of their last 5 and are riding a 3-game home win streak. Offensively, they’ve been efficient, averaging 2.8 goals on just 27.6 shots, but their strength lies in goaltending and defense. Logan Thompson has been elite with a 2.23 GAA and .923 SV% across his last 10 starts. They’ve allowed just 6 goals in their 4 playoff wins and are thriving on special teams, with an 86.4% penalty kill.
Key Players:
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Dylan Strome: 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in last 10 games
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Alex Ovechkin: 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists)
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Connor McMichael: 5 playoff points
Betting Trends:
Carolina Hurricanes:
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4-1 SU in last 5 games
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1-7 SU in last 8 road games
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8-4 SU in last 12 vs. Washington
Washington Capitals:
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4-1 SU in last 5 games
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11-2 SU in last 13 home games
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3-game home win streak
Exact Score Prediction:
Washington Capitals 4 – Carolina Hurricanes 2
Our Best Bet:
Washington Capitals ML (+105)
Despite being underdogs, the Capitals are the stronger overall team right now. They have the edge in goaltending, defensive structure, and home-ice advantage. With Carolina’s road struggles and Andersen's inconsistency in net, Washington is in a prime spot to strike first in this series.
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