The Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals meet in NHL action from the Capital One Arena on Friday night. Who comes out on top in this Metro division clash? Let’s dive in and find out with our Hurricanes vs. Capitals Prediction.
Carolina Hurricanes Team Preview
The Carolina Hurricanes come into this one looking to add to their current four-game win streak after a 6-1 win over the Rangers last time out. Sebastian Aho leads the Hurricanes in scoring with 43 points including 15 goals and a team-high 28 assists while Seth Jarvis has 27 points split between 13 goals and 14 assists. Martin Necas and Michael Bunting each have 26 points with 9 goals and 17 assists and Brady Skjei also has 24 points with 18 assists. In goal, Frederik Andersen has gone 4-1 with a 2.87 GAA and an .894 save percentage while Antti Raanta is 7-5-1 with a 3.56 GAA and an .855 save percentage and Pyotr Kochetkov is 10-7-3 with a 2.53 GAA and an .904 save percentage.
Carolina Hurricanes Team Facts
- The Hurricanes have lost each of their last four games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Hurricanes have failed to cover the puck line in nine of their last 10 games as favorites following a road win.
- The Hurricanes have won the second period in five of their last six games as favorites.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Hurricanes’ last 10 games as favorites against the Capitals.
Washington Capitals Team Preview
The Washington Capitals will try to rebound from a 6-3 loss at the hands of the New Jersey Devils in their last matchup. Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals in scoring with 24 points including 8 goals and 16 assists while Tom Wilson has 19 points with 11 goals and 8 assists. John Carlson has 20 points with a team-high 18 assists and Dylan Strome has 22 points with a team-high 13 goals for the Capitals. In goal for Washington, Darcy Kuemper has gone 9-8-2 with a 3.15 GAA and an .893 save percentage while Charlie Lindgren is 7-3-3 with a 2.27 GAA and a .928 save percentage and Hunter Shepard is 2-1-1 with a 3.19 GAA and an .894 save percentage this season.
Washington Capitals Team Facts
- The Capitals have won five of their last six games as underdogs following a home loss.
- The Capitals have covered the puck line in each of their last four home games against the Hurricanes following a home loss.
- The favorites have won the first period in each of the Capitals’ last four games at Capital One Arena.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2′ market has hit in each of the Capitals’ last 11 games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Washington Capitals rank 30th in the league for goals per game this season (2.36).
- The Washington Capitals rank 28th in the league in power play percentage this season (13.73%).
- The Carolina Hurricanes rank 4th in the league in power play percentage this season (27.27%).
- The Carolina Hurricanes rank 8th in the league for goals per game this season (3.39).
Hurricanes vs. Capitals Prediction
I’m sticking with the Hurricanes here. The ‘Canes are just playing the better hockey right now and seem to have righted the ship offensively while getting solid and sturdy goaltending from Pyotr Kochetkov. Washington just looks lost again and are almost an auto-fade in this form. Give me the ‘Canes here.
