Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/05/2024

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

Venue:  PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Capitals +200, Hurricanes -245; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Capitals +200, Hurricanes -245; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Capitals +200, Hurricanes -250; Over/Under:  6 goals

Washington Capitals:  36-28-10 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

Carolina Hurricanes:  47-21-7 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

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Washington Capitals:  6-3-1 last 10

Carolina Hurricanes:  8-1-1 last 10

The Capitals are entering this game with 82 points, a 36-28-10 record overall, and they are 16-17-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Buffalo Sabres in their last game, losing that one on the road 6-2, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins still to be played on Thursday night. In their game against the Sabres, Martin Fehérváry and Dylan Strome each scored 1 goal for them in that game. John Carlson, Hendrix Lapierre, Alexander Ovechkin, and Michael Sgarbossa each led the team in assists with 1 while Dylan Strome led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Charlie Lindgren was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 31 shots with 25 saves and a .806 save percentage before getting replaced by Darcy Kuemper who stopped all 4 shots he faced. Their offense has scored 203 goals this season averaging 2.7 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 238 goals against them allowing 3.2 goals per game.

The Hurricanes are entering this game with 101 points, a 47-21-7 record overall, and they are 25-9-4 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Montreal Canadiens in their last game, winning that one on the road 3-0, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Boston Bruins still to be played on Thursday night. In their game against the Canadiens, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, and Jordan Staal each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Jake Guentzel led the team in assists with 2 while Sebastian Aho led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Pyotr Kochetkov was the starting goalie in that game and he recorded the shutout as he allowed 0 goals on 26 shots with 26 saves and a 1.000 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 255 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 199 goals against them allowing 2.7 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Hurricanes listed as a big favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Hurricanes have looked really good in their games this season with their 47-21-7 record overall which has them in 2nd place of their division in the East with one of the best records in the entire NHL. They are in 2nd place in their division right now but they are still fighting to claim the top spot, and they are also in the race for the Presidents' Trophy too. They have looked great on home ice all year with their 25-9-4 home record too. Meanwhile, the Capitals have looked good in their games this season with their 36-28-10 record overall, but that record only has them in 4th place of their division in the East right now and fighting for a Wild Card spot for the playoffs. They have been surging up the standings lately as they are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and came from much lower in the standings to put themselves in a position to make the Wild Card now. As hot as they have been lately, the Hurricanes are still the hotter team coming into this one with their 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games. Both of these teams are also playing on a back-to-back here so the Hurricanes have the advantage since they are on home ice in both games while the Capitals have to travel. The Hurricanes are in the better situation here and they have been one of the best teams in the NHL all season while the Capitals may just squeak into the playoffs, but they aren't a playoff team with the way they have looked this season. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game and on the puckline.

Capitals Hurricanes Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Friday, April 5, 2024 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 4 Capitals 1.

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Washington Capitals: 117-128 (-21.6 units) on the moneyline in all games. 20-24 (-9 units) on the moneyline after scoring 1 goal or less in their previous game. 11-6 OVER after 2 straight losses by 2 goals or more. 33-23 OVER off a home loss.

Carolina Hurricanes: 167-99 (+7.9 units) on the moneyline in all games. 20-8 (+8.6 units) on the moneyline after 1 or more consecutive losses. 6-3 OVER after 5 or more consecutive unders. 10-6 OVER revenging a close loss vs opponent of 1 goal or less.

Washington Capitals:  T. Oshie (RW) Ques Thurs - Upper Body. T. Wilson (RW) Elig Thurs - Poss. Suspension. E. Bear (D) Out indefinitely - Personal. N. Backstrom (C) out for season - Hip.

Carolina Hurricanes:  J. Fast (RW) Out indefinitely - Upper Body.

“When we try to take one rush offensively and we get a chance and cheat for a chance, it seems like they get three or four on us coming back the other way. That hasn’t worked for us all year.” - Dylan Strome after their loss against the Sabres in their game on Tuesday.

“In a game like tonight where that’s the difference, you want all the parts of your game clicking, but those are two crucial areas. The first couple shifts of the third, we were a little sluggish, but the goaltending was really key, it kept us in it. Goaltending and special teams were the difference.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Canadiens in their game on Saturday.

LW Ovechkin, Alex

C McMichael, Connor

RW Wilson, Tom

LD Fehérváry, Martin

RD Carlson, John

G Lindgren, Charlie

LW Guentzel, Jake

C Aho, Sebastian

RW Jarvis, Seth

LD Slavin, Jaccob

RD Burns, Brent

G Andersen, Frederik

Points: D. Strome (62)

Goals: D. Strome (26)

Assists: J. Carlson (39)

GAA: C. Lindgren (2.81)

Points: S. Aho (85)

Goals: S. Aho (33)

Assists: S. Aho (52)

GAA: F. Andersen (1.88)

Coaches:

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (1st season)

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