Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals Game 1 Prediction, Odds
The top team in the East during the regular season, the Capitals disposed of the upstart Montreal Canadiens in five games in their first-round matchup, ending a run of five straight playoff series losses that started with a heartbreaking defeat in seven games at the hands of Carolina six years ago. The Hurricanes advanced to the second round for a fifth straight year by knocking off the New Jersey Devils in five games but arrive in Washington sporting just one victory in their past eight road contests.
The Hurricanes lead the way as -130 road favourites on Tuesday’s NHL odds and also open the second round as -170 chalk on the NHL playoff series prices. The Capitals trail as +110 underdogs on the Game 1 odds and +140 longshots to win the series. The total for Tuesday’s Game 1 matchup is pegged at 6.0.
Hurricanes vs. Capitals NHL Playoff Betting Odds
This marks just the second time these Metropolitan Division rivals have met in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Hurricanes overcame a 2-0 series deficit and twice avoided elimination on their way to a series win in seven games, capped by a thrilling comeback win in overtime to seal the victory in Game 7. The home team earned the win in each of the first six games of the series before the Canes’ series-clinching win in DC. That is a trend that extends to recent regular season dates, with home teams winning the past six clashes between these clubs including capitals victories in their past three at Capital One.
A lack of success on the road remains a concern for the Hurricanes, who entered the postseason sporting the worst road record of any playoff-bound team, going just 16-21-4 during the regular season. Overall, the Hurricanes lost seven straight on the road prior to their 5-2 Game 4 win in New Jersey in the first round and have allowed 4.25 goals per game over that stretch. Conversely, the Caps allowed just four total goals while tallying three home wins over the Habs in the first round and enter this series on an impressive 11-2 run in their past 13 on home ice.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes saw two of their five first-round dates with the Devils go to double overtime including the club’s series-clinching 5-4 win in Game 5 but otherwise dominated the Devils in the series, allowing just 2.20 goals per game. Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov led the offence, combining to score eight of the club’s 19 total goals in the first round. However, the duo generated just one total goal and four assists in four meetings with the Caps during the regular season. The club faces two injury concerns entering the second round.
Goaltender Frederik Andersen was forced to sit out Game 5 versus the Devils due to an undisclosed injury, with Pyotr Kochetkov stepping in to backstop the club to the series win. Andersen was forced to leave Game 4 early after allowing just six total goals until that point in the series but should be back in the crease for Game 1. Former Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi suffered an ugly eye injury in the first round but is also expected to be ready for action.
Washington Capitals
With Logan Thompson in top form in the crease, the Capitals allowed just six total goals in their four first-round wins over Montreal and scored nine total markers while rolling to decisive wins in Games 4 and 5. The club received offensive contributions from across the lineup, with eight different Washington shooters bulging the twine in the first round. Unsurprisingly, Alex Ovechkin led the attack with four goals in the series, with three of those tallies coming on home ice.
Ovie’s steady production buries the memory of what had become a worrisome run of futility in the postseason, with the NHL’s greatest goal scorer potting just one total marker over his previous 11 playoff contests, and adds value to his +800 odds on the NHL player props to score multiple goals in Game 1.
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