Hurricanes vs Capitals Game 5 Prediction, Betting Odds, and Our Best Bet

The Carolina Hurricanes are on the brink of punching their ticket to the next round as they have taken a commanding 3-1 series lead into Game 5 against the Washington Capitals. With the puck dropping tonight in Washington DC, this is the Caps last hope to stay alive. Their single win in this series was the second home game, but will they have enough to overcome the surging Hurricanes?

Game Details and Betting Odds

This series has been tilting further in Carolina’s favor with each passing game and it’s a hole that makes a Capitals’ comeback very unlikely. Even the bookmakers are taking note as they have Carolina as heavy favorites at -170 on the moneyline while Washington is sitting at +142.

After dropping Game 2, the Hurricanes bounced back with convincing wins in Games 3 and 4, outscoring the Capitals 9-2 over those 2 games. Game 3 was an absolute blowout as the Canes won 4-0 and Game 4 saw Carolina clamp down defensively and erupt in the 3rd period, with goals from Taylor Hall, Sean Walker, and Andrei Svechnikov sealing a 5-2 win. They’re not just winning by slim margins, but they’re taking the puck line as well.

The Hurricanes’ depth is where they really shine. Despite the Capitals being the #1 seed in the playoffs, Carolina has managed to wear down Washington with relentless pace and puck possession. Carolina nearly doubled Washington in shots last game with 38 compared to 21 and simply suffocated their attack, especially at even strength.

Hurricanes Are In Full Control

Carolina’s playing their best hockey at the perfect time against the best team in the regular season.

Sebastian Aho continues to lead by example. He’s posted 74 points this season and already dishing out 7 assists with 3 goals in the playoffs. Seth Jarvis scored in Game 4 and continues to be a reliable finisher in the low slot. The offense is getting contributions across all lines and that’s what separates teams in the playoffs. It’s something Washington can’t match right now.

What’s more impressive is how Carolina’s defensive structure has frustrated the Caps. The Hurricanes have allowed just 5 goals total in their 3 wins and rank 5th in postseason scoring at 3.44 goals per game. Their PK unit is absolutely elite as they’re shutting down 92.6% of opposing power plays. That’s the best in the playoffs by a hefty margin.

In Game 4, Carolina didn’t even need a power-play goal to dominate. They played clean, fast, and efficient hockey even in 5-on-5. Despite losing the faceoff battle and taking more PIM, they dictated the pace and created far more scoring chances. 

Bottom line, the Hurricanes are playing like a Stanley Cup team. If they can keep this style of play going forward in tonight’s game and beyond, we could easily see them hoist Lord Stanley’s cup at the end of the season.

Capitals Are Running Out of Time

For Washington, there’s simply not enough going right.

Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin are doing what they can, but they need help. They combined for 73 goals this season, but the depth behind them has dried up. Ovechkin’s power-play goal in Game 4 was the lone highlight in a mostly lifeless effort.

The Capitals are simply not creating enough high-danger chances and that’s what strikes us as odd because they were able to do it during the regular season. They were outshot by 17 in Game 4 and only managed 5 total goals in their 3 losses. That offensive drought isn’t a fluke, either. They rank 12th out of 16 playoff teams in scoring with a 2.64 GF/G and continue to struggle at 5-on-5. That’s not even mentioning their 20% PP% or their 69.2% PK%.

Defensively, they’ve just been overwhelmed. Even when they win faceoffs or throw more hits, they can’t generate the transition opportunities needed to capitalize and find the back of the net.

The team’s playoff push is running out of gas and we’re afraid it’s not going to pick up steam tonight.

John Carlson is the Player Prop Bet to Watch

While Washington as a team has underwhelmed, John Carlson is still a valuable contributor in the right spots. He’s not dominant, but he’s holding up his end of the deal.

The veteran defenseman posted 51 points in the regular season which included 46 assists. And when the Caps are at home against Carolina, Carlson tends to show up on the scoresheet regardless of where they’re playing.

He’s recorded a point in 5 of Washington’s last 6 home games against the Hurricanes. That includes a point in both Game 1 and Game 2 of this series at Capital One Arena, where he picked up a goal and an assist. Even as Carolina’s defense tightens, Carlson logs plenty of minutes and his power-play role gives him a solid chance to hit the board.

The line is set at over 0.5 points at +120 odds which offers solid value for a player with both volume and history on his side in this specific matchup. Sure, he’s been dry the last 2 games, but those were on the road and he absolutely thrives on his home ice. We expect him to get on the board with something.

Prediction — Carolina Finishes the Job and Moves On

Carolina looks like a team on a mission and they’re getting it done.

Their offensive balance, insanely elite PK unit, and consistent forecheck have put the Capitals in survival mode. Typically, when a team is just trying to survive, they put out relentless energy, but this is the dominant Canes we’re talking about. Unless Washington finds another gear, this series won’t make it back to Raleigh for a Game 6.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 2
• Best Bet: Carolina Hurricanes moneyline at -170

We expect the Hurricanes to weather the early storm on the road and gradually take control. Washington may be desperate, but Carolina has proven they can shut the door when it counts. While we’re not overly excited about -170, we’re simply going with the bookmakers on this one. Carolina is hungry and Washington is out of steam. There won’t be a Game 6; instead, the Canes will move on to the Eastern Conference Finals against either Florida or Toronto.