Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals Prediction, Preview, and Odds
The Carolina Hurricanes (21-13-4) may have started the 2023-24 season slow, but recently they've found plenty of momentum. With one of the deepest squads in the NHL that made some significant additions this past summer, if they can keep up this level of play, it's only a matter of time until they can finally go on their deep Stanley Cup run.
In this one, they'll battle the division rival Washington Capitals (18-12-6), who similarly started the season slow. While they've not been as hot as Carolina, there have been plenty of positives for this veteran squad, and with the season debut of Max Pacioretty, if they can continue building, there may be a playoff run in them after all.
Can Carolina close the gap atop the Metropolitan Division?
The Carolina Hurricanes were one of the best regular season teams in the NHL last season, and that only sent their expectations higher ahead of 2023-24, as of late, they've been the team that many expected, posting a 7-2-2 record over their past 11 games, taking their season mark to 21-13-4, placing them second in the Metro, just five points behind the surging New York Rangers. On the road this season, Carolina has been rock solid, tallying an 11-10-1 record over that time, with a 5-0-1 record in their past six away from home, and with a +13 goal differential, it's clear that this team could be building something very special.
The Hurricanes possess one of the deepest teams in the NHL, with eight players scoring between 20 and 30 points this season while being led by Sebastian Aho's incredible 43-point start, but in net they've been a mixed bag, posting a 3.05 GAA and a poor .886 save percentage. The last time out for Carolina was a big win over the division-leading Rangers, with three assists to Brady Skjei and two goals to Andrei Svechnikov leading the way while Pyotr Kochetkov was once again fantastic in net, stopping all but one of the 29 shots he saw as Carolina picked up a statement-making 6-1 victory at Madison Square Garden.
Can Washington once again turn the momentum of their season?
It was just a few weeks into the 2023-24 campaign that many had written the Washington Capitals off, and while they had built momentum after the fact, they're sliding once again, picking up a win in just one of their past six games, pushing their season record to 18-12-6, placing them sixth in the stacked Metropolitan Division, with just four points separating them from the second place Hurricanes. At home this season, the Capitals have put together a 9-5-4 record, but find themselves just 2-2-3 in their past seven games played at home, and with a -19 goal differential on the season, it appears as though one good or bad run could completely change the outlook of their campaign.
As he has done for years, Alexander Ovechkin once again leads this team in scoring, with a surprising 8 goals and 24 points in 38 games played, with just two other players over 20 points on the season, and in net they've done everything they can to hold this season together, with three goalies combining for a 2.89 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Last time out for Washington was a tough home loss to the division rival New Jersey Devils, with four points between Ovechkin and Kuznetzov just not enough to keep them in the game as Hunter Shepard allowed six goals on just 28 shots as the Devils ran away 6-3 winners in this one.
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Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
In the Metropolitan Division, there appear to be some historic rivalries, and while this may not be considered to be one, these teams have played some fantastic games in recent memory, with every single one seemingly coming down to the wire, with the Capitals posting a 6-4 mark in their past 10 head-to-head meetings.
However, in their past five games, the Hurricanes have a 4-1 record, outscoring their opponents by a combined mark of 17-8, and while the Capitals escaped with a 2-1 shootout win earlier this season, Carolina looks like a different team now, and with a 5-0-1 mark in their past six away from home, this will be yet another key divisional win for the red-hot Hurricanes.
Prediction: Carolina -165
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
These two teams are led by absolute stars in Sebastian Aho and Alex Ovechkin, but they can only do so much against fantastic goaltending as their last 10 head-to-head meetings have proven as the under sits at 6-3-1 in that time, with the average combined score in their past five encounters being exactly five goals.
For the Hurricanes, the over maybe 6-4 in their past 10 overall games, but in their past five games played away from home, they've allowed just eight goals overall, and for the Capitals, the under is 6-4 over that same timeframe, with less than two goals a game scored in their past four played at home, so while there's some great offensive talent, this one is all about the grind, something that both teams find plenty of success with.
Keep it simple, take the under.
