The Carolina Hurricanes look to steal Game 1 on the road in their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup against the Washington Capitals.

Carolina just eliminated the New Jersey Devils four games to one. In two of their wins, the Hurricanes played well on both sides of the puck, allowing only one goal in each of those games. As the series progressed, Carolina's scoring efficiency improved, and they also demonstrated their comeback ability. In Game 5, the Hurricanes were down 3-0 after the first period, tied the game in the second, and eventually won in double overtime.

Washington just eliminated the Montreal Canadiens four games to one. In all four wins, the Capitals' defense held Montreal to two goals or fewer. While the Canadiens put up a solid effort on the road, they lacked the scoring depth needed to overcome Washington. The Capitals' lone loss was a blowout, but they bounced back with two convincing three-goal victories.

Spread

Moneyline

Total

*The above data was collected on May 6, 2025, and may have changed since writing.

Carolina Hurricanes

Washington Capitals

Carolina ranks ninth in scoring, 10th in goals against, and first in penalty kill. Sebastian Aho leads the team in assists and points, recording three goals and five assists in the series against the Devils. The Hurricanes went 2-1-1 in the regular season series, with both wins coming at home. The two losses included one low-scoring and one high-scoring game. Carolina has been consistent in generating offense throughout games and has shown strong comeback ability. Although their power play is below average, they are well-equipped to slow down Washington's power play opportunities.

Washington ranks second in scoring, eighth in goals against, and fifth in penalty kill. Dylan Strome leads the team in assists and points, tallying two goals and seven assists in the series against the Canadiens. The Capitals have faced the Hurricanes in the playoffs once before, in 2019, losing the series four games to three. Washington held a 2-0 series lead and won all their home games, except Game 7. The Capitals adopted more of a defensive approach in the Montreal series and had only two games in which they scored consistently across all periods, splitting those games 1-1. Washington usually controls the pace on home ice, but they'll need to be cautious of Carolina's strong third-period play.

Both of these teams rank in the top ten on both sides of the puck and in the top five for penalty kill. Shutting down power plays will limit many scoring chances. The rankings more or less cancel each other out, which is why this game is essentially a pick'em. The Capitals played defensive hockey on home ice in their first-round series, and the Hurricanes took a similar approach in their road games.