Capital One Arena will be the site for a divisional clash as the Washington Capitals welcome the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, March 30, and you’ll be able to see the game live on NBC Sports Washington.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Washington (-210) is currently favored over Carolina (+175), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 for the under and +100 for the over.
The Capitals are 46-31 straight up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 10.4 units this season. That winning percentage, ranked first in the Metropolitan Division so far this season, is a slide from what the team recorded during last year’s regular season (55-27). Through 77 regular season matches, 43 of its games have gone over the total, while 32 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 27-11 SU at home this year.
Washington’s connected on 22.8 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.1 percent of all penalties.
Washington, as a collective unit, has been called for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, 4.2 per game over its past five games total, and 4.2 per game over its last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties for 8.8 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Boasting a .907 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Braden Holtby (32-19-4) has been the primary option in goal for the Capitals this season. If the Caps choose to give him the evening off, however, head coach Barry Trotz could turn to Philipp Grubauer (14-19-19 record, .923 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will each lead the way for the Capitals. Ovechkin (83 points) has tallied 45 goals and 38 assists and has recorded multiple points in 23 different games this year. Kuznetsov has 25 goals and 52 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 45 games.
On the other side of the rink, Carolina is 34-43 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.2 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 77 regular season matches, 39 of its games have gone under the total, while 36 have gone over and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, Carolina is 16-22 SU.
Carolina has converted on 19.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 77.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carolina’s players have been penalized only 2.8 times per game this season, 2.6 per game over their past five games total, and 3.0 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 5.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cam Ward (25.0 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for Carolina. Ward has 22 wins, 19 losses, and four OT losses to his credit, while registering a .905 save percentage and 2.77 goals against average this year.
Leading the offensive counter for the visiting Hurricanes will be Sebastian Aho (27 goals, 36 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (23 goals, 38 assists).
Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Carolina is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 3-1 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of Carolina’s last five outings.
Washington’s attempted 29.0 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 31st in the NHL), and 30.4 across their last 10 outings.
Washington is averaging 3.2 goals per game in its past five games (the team’s a perfect 0-0 SU during that streak).
Over Carolina’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 2-4 in those games).
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