Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes Prediction, Preview and Odds - 12/17/2023

Game Time: 6:00 pm ET, Sunday, December 17, 2023

Venue:  PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC

Where to Watch:  NHL Network

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Capitals +180, Hurricanes -218; Over/Under:  6 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Capitals +180, Hurricanes -218; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Capitals +180, Hurricanes -218; Over/Under:  6 goals

Washington Capitals:  14-8-4 (5th place, Metropolitan Division)

Carolina Hurricanes:  16-12-2 (4th place, Metropolitan Division)

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Washington Capitals:  4-4-2 last 10

Carolina Hurricanes:  4-4-2 last 10

The Capitals are entering this game with 32 points, a 14-8-4 record overall, and they are 6-4-2 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Philadelphia Flyers in their last game, losing that one on the road 4-3 in a shootout, but this is also the 2nd game of a back-to-back for them with their game against the Nashville Predators still to be played on Saturday night. In their game against the Flyers, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, and Connor McMichael each scored 1 goal for them in that game. Aliaksei Protas led the team in assists with 2 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 3 goals on 32 shots with 29 saves and a .906 save percentage. Their offense has scored 67 goals this season averaging 2.6 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 76 goals against them allowing 2.9 goals per game.

The Hurricanes are entering this game with 34 points, a 16-12-2 record overall, and they are 8-2-2 in their home games this regular season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Nashville Predators in their last game, losing that one at home 6-5 in overtime. Martin Nečas, Stefan Noesen, Sebastian Aho, Jalen Chatfield, and Tony DeAngelo scored 1 goal for them in that game. Michael Bunting led the team in assists with 2 while Michael Bunting, Sebastian Aho, Tony DeAngelo, Jaccob Slavin, and Jordan Staal each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Antti Raanta was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 6 goals on 30 shots with 24 saves and a .800 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 99 goals this season averaging 3.3 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 98 goals against them allowing 3.3 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 alright this season with their 16-12-2 record overall but they haven't looked that good lately. They have been slipping down the standings lately due to their road troubles this season and just lost a lot of points on the road trip they got back from. They have looked a lot better in their home games all season though, with their 8-2-2 home record, playing like a completely different team there. They are also going to be looking to bounce back here after losing a close and very high scoring game on home ice against the Predators in their last one. Meanwhile, the Capitals haven't looked great this season with their 14-8-4 record overall which has them near the bottom of their division and they are only 6-4-2 in their road games too. The Capitals have been very good defensively this season but they also have one of the worst offenses in the NHL which will be a big problem against a team like the Hurricanes who play much better at home and score a ton of goals there. The Hurricanes also have one of the best offenses in the NHL this season and it will be too much for the Capitals to keep out of their net and keep up on the scoring front. 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 Sunday, December 17, 2023 (6:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 5 Capitals 2.

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Washington Capitals: 14-12 (+4.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 6-3 (+5.6 units) on the moneyline in a road game where the total is 6 or more. 6-3 (+5.8 units) on the moneyline vs. division opponents. 16-9 UNDER in all games. 6-3 UNDER vs. division opponents.

Carolina Hurricanes: 16-14 (-6.2 units) on the moneyline in all games. 44-36 (-13.3 units) on the moneyline after 1 or more consecutive losses. 33-23 (-7.4 units) on the moneyline after allowing 4 goals or more. 19-9 UNDER off a home loss. 34-20 UNDER after allowing 4 goals or more. 12-5 UNDER after losing their previous game in overtime.

Washington Capitals:  E. Kuznetsov (C) Ques Sat - Illness. S. Milano (LW) Out indefinitely - Upper Body. M. Pacioretty (LW) Late Dec - Achilles. N. Backstrom (C) out for season - Hip.

Carolina Hurricanes:  A. Svechnikov (RW) Out indefinitely - Upper Body. F. Andersen (G) Out indefinitely - Illness.

“They’re going to work in all three zones. They’re not going to give you anything.” - Spencer Carbery after his team’s loss against the Flyers in their game on Thursday.

“Not tight on anything and that’s what got us. I give guys credit for trying. I could just tell we were a little off.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s loss against the Predators in their game on Friday.

LW Ovechkin, Alex

C Strome, Dylan

RW Wilson, Tom

LD Fehérváry, Martin

RD Carlson, John

G Lindgren, Charlie

LW Noesen, Stefan

C Aho, Sebastian

RW Jarvis, Seth

LD Slavin, Jaccob

RD Burns, Brent

G Raanta, Antti

Points: T. Wilson (17)

Goals: D. Strome (12)

Assists: J. Carlson (14)

GAA: C. Lindgren (2.39)

Points: S. Aho (26)

Goals: T. Teravainen (11)

Assists: S. Aho (15)

GAA: P. Kochetkov (2.77)

Coaches:

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (1st season)

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