Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 01/05/2024

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Friday, January 5, 2024

Venue:  Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -166, Capitals +140; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -175, Capitals +150; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -175, Capitals +145; Over/Under:  6 goals

Carolina Hurricanes:  21-13-4 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

Washington Capitals:  18-12-6 (6th place, Metropolitan Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Will Rogers is on a HOT STREAK in the NHL on a 19-6 NHL RUN for +$10,770 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Carolina Hurricanes:  6-1-3 last 10

Washington Capitals:  4-4-2 last 10

The Hurricanes are entering this game with 46 points, a 21-13-4 record overall, and they are 11-10-1 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the New York Rangers in their last game, winning that one on the road 6-1. Andrei Svechnikov led the team in goals scored with 2 while Jack Drury, Michael Bunting, Jalen Chatfield, and Jordan Martinook each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Brady Skjei led the team in assists with 3 while Jordan Martinook led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Pyotr Kochetkov was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 1 goal on 29 shots with 28 saves and a .966 save percentage. Their offense has scored 130 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 118 goals against them allowing 3.1 goals per game.

The Capitals are entering this game with 42 points, an 18-12-6 record overall, and they are 9-5-4 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the New Jersey Devils in their last game, losing that one at home 6-3. Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson, and Connor McMichael each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Alexander Ovechkin led the team in assists with 2 while John Carlson and Tom Wilson each led the team in shots on net in that game with 4. Hunter Shepard was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 28 shots with 22 saves and a .786 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 88 goals this season averaging 2.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 108 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Hurricanes listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Hurricanes have looked really good in their games this season with their 21-13-4 record overall which has them in 2nd place of their division in the East. They haven't looked great in their road games with their 11-10-1 road record this season, but they have looked really good lately and have a lot of momentum with 4 wins in a row now. Meanwhile, the Capitals haven't looked great in their games this season with their 18-12-6 record overall which has them near the bottom of their division in the East. They are 9-5-4 in their home games this season which isn't terrible but they also have one of the weakest offenses in the NHL this year with the number of goals they have been scoring. Their defense has been better but the Hurricanes are hot right now and they are scoring lots of goals too which will be key in this game. The Capitals offense just won't be able to keep up with the Hurricanes here even being on home ice. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game. 

Hurricanes Capitals Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, January 5, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 5 Capitals 3.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Carolina Hurricanes Washington Capitals prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NHL predictions and previews.

Carolina Hurricanes: 21-17 (-6.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 8-10 (-9.8 units) on the moneyline after scoring 4 goals or more in their previous game. 8-4 UNDER vs. division opponents. 35-21 UNDER after playing 2 consecutive road games.

Washington Capitals: 10-6 (+8.2 units) on the moneyline vs. division opponents. 34-19 (+11 units) on the moneyline off a home loss. 22-13 UNDER in all games. 12-5 UNDER in a home game where the total is 6 or more. 7-2 UNDER after playing a game where 7 or more total goals were scored.

Carolina Hurricanes:  S. Noesen (RW) Ques Fri - Illness. J. Fast (RW) Ques Fri - Head. F. Andersen (G) Out indefinitely - Illness.

Washington Capitals:  C. Lindgren (G) Mid Jan - Upper Body. S. Milano (LW) Mid Jan - Upper Body. T. Oshie (RW) Mid Jan - Lower Body. N. Backstrom (C) out for season - Hip.

“We scored on just about every scoring chance we had tonight. And we got some big saves. We've been on a good stretch. We just have to keep plugging along." - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Rangers in their game on Tuesday.

“Just too many mistakes and not enough push at the end. And you’ve got to give them credit. They’re a young, fast-skating team, so you see in that third period that really took over.” - Spencer Carbery after his team’s loss against the Devils in their game on Wednesday.

LW Svechnikov, Andrei

C Aho, Sebastian

RW Teräväinen, Teuvo

LD Slavin, Jaccob

RD Burns, Brent

G Kochetkov, Pyotr

LW Ovechkin, Alex

C Kuznetsov, Evgeny

RW Wilson, Tom

LD Fehérváry, Martin

RD Carlson, John

G Shepard, Hunter

Points: S. Aho (43)

Goals: S. Aho (15)

Assists: S. Aho (28)

GAA: P. Kochetkov (2.53)

Points: A. Ovechkin (24)

Goals: D. Strome (13)

Assists: J. Carlson (18)

GAA: C. Lindgren (2.27)

Coaches:

Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour (6th season)

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (1st season)