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

The Hurricanes and Capitals are facing off tonight in what has the feel of a playoff preview. Carolina’s hosting this one, and the books have them as a solid favorite at -160 on the moneyline, with the Capitals listed at just +135.

With just 8 games left in the season and Ovechkin sitting 4 goals shy of Gretzky’s all-time record, there’s more than just playoff position on the line here and that’s what we love the most about this game.

The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET from PNC Arena in Raleigh so you have plenty of time to get your bets in for this Metropolitan Division showdown.

Hurricanes Are Heating Up at the Right Time

Carolina’s coming into tonight 8-2 in their last 10 games, and they’ve looked like a complete team during that stretch. They’ve also been covering the puck line in each of those wins. They’ve gone 8-2 ATS, which says a lot about how they’re winning — not just squeaking by, but controlling games and finding the back of the net.

Their offense has kicked it up a gear lately. Over the last 10 games, the Canes are scoring well above their season average, which is a huge sign as they get ready for the playoffs.

Sebastian Aho continues to lead the charge with 69 points on the year, and his chemistry with the rest of the top line is tough to match when they get rolling. Jalen Chatfield is holding down the blue line with a team-best +20 rating, while Pyotr Kochetkov, who’s been nothing less than reliable in net at 26-13-3 and 2.5 GAA, gives them a strong foundation to build from.

One of the biggest takeaways from this team is that they’re also limiting mistakes. 4 of their last 10 games hit the over, which only goes to show they’re scoring but not turning it into chaotic high-event hockey. It’s controlled aggression — and it’s working.

Capitals Still Winning but Show More Cracks

The Caps are 6-3-1 in their last 10. That’s pretty solid and nothing to complain about, but if you zoom in, they’ve been much less consistent than Carolina.

They’ve only covered the puck line in half of those games. On top of that, they’re allowing more goals than their season average. That’s not the kind of trend you want this late in the year.

Offensively, Dylan Strome has been their heavy engine with 72 points and a team-high 48 helpers. And even though Logan Thompson has been great in the net with a 31-5-6 record, 2.4 GAA, and .912 SV%, the team in front of him has been letting more chances through over this stretch. The over has hit in 5 of their last 10, and that trend leans on both teams opening up offensively — something that can hurt the Caps more than help them — especially against a team like Carolina.

They’re scoring quite a bit more too, but that often feels like a trade-off with defensive structure. And while Aliaksei Protas’ +41 is wild and tied for the best in the NHL, one great plus-minus isn’t going to cover up some of the other red flags.

This isn’t the same stingy Caps team we saw earlier in the year. They feel a bit sloppier as we’re getting close to the end of the regular season. And if Ovechkin’s chase for history becomes the story, it could distract from the real task at hand — locking down 2 points with the win.

Prediction and Best Bet

This game is close on paper, and it’s easy to see why. We think this game will be a tight one that opens up late. But when you weigh everything, Carolina’s the better team that is trending at the right time. There’s a lot to be said about that.

They’re playing sharper, they’re more balanced, and they’re also at home where they have one of the best records in the NHL with 29-8-1. Washington’s been slipping just a bit, and unless Ovechkin goes absolute nuclear, it’s hard to see them outlasting the Hurricanes’ depth for a full 60 minutes of hockey.

• HelloRookie’s Prediction: Hurricanes 4, Capitals 3
• Best Bet: Hurricanes -160 on ML

It’s not a flashy value play that we try to go after, but it’s the right side and sometimes that’s all you can get. If you want a little more bang for your buck, you could go for the Hurricanes at -1.5 on the puck line at a decent +140 with the hopes of getting an empty-netter in the final seconds and this game not going to OT, but the moneyline is a bit safer because after all the Caps are a pretty good team.

You could also look into some player props if you want a little more action on this game.  A bet that we like with a little more money behind it is Aho for an anytime goal as he’s scored in each of the Canes’ last 6 games against division opponents. At +170, that’s a solid play.

However, Carolina’s form, their scoring uptick, and Kochetkov’s presence in the net undoubtedly make them the team to back here.