The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Washington Capitals for Game 2 of their second-round playoff series on Thursday night. The puck drops at 7:00PM ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Carolina leads the series 1-0 after winning the opener 2-1 in overtime.
Game 1 was tight, but Carolina dominated in almost every stat. They outshot Washington 33-14 and had a 94-34 edge in total shot attempts. Jaccob Slavin scored the game-winner in overtime, and Frederik Andersen made 13 saves in the win. Washington is looking for a better showing in front of the home crowd in Game 2.
Capitals Preview – Need a Big Response at Home
Washington finished first in the Metropolitan Division with a 51-22-6-3 record. They were outplayed in Game 1 and had only 14 shots, one of the lowest totals in their playoff history. Aliaksei Protas scored the lone goal in the second period, but the offense never got going after that.
Logan Thompson was the main reason Washington stayed in the game. He stopped 31 of 33 shots and kept the Capitals close despite all the pressure. Thompson now has a .926 save percentage and 2.17 goals-against average this postseason.
Washington will need more from its top skaters, especially Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome. Wilson had just one shot in Game 1, and Strome is the team’s playoff points leader with nine. The Capitals have been much stronger at home all season with a 29-9-7 record, but they need to push the pace and find more scoring chances in Game 2.
Hurricanes Preview – Defense and Goaltending Leading the Way
Carolina came into the playoffs as one of the NHL’s best all-around teams. They allowed the fewest shots per game in the league (24.9) and ranked second in shots taken per game (31.7). That trend continued in Game 1 with 33 shots on goal and nearly triple the total attempts compared to Washington.
Frederik Andersen is back in goal and playing well. He’s now 4-1 in the postseason with a .935 save percentage and a 1.45 goals-against average. The team has also been perfect on the penalty kill, going 17-for-17 through six playoff games.
Andrei Svechnikov led the team with 11 shot attempts and 3 shots on goal in Game 1. Carolina’s top line, including Sebastian Aho and Jackson Blake, dominated at even strength with a 73.3% Corsi rating. If they keep controlling the puck like that, they’ll stay in charge of the series.
Betting Prediction
Carolina is favored again at -130 on the moneyline, while Washington sits at +121. The total is set at 5.5 goals, which makes sense given both teams’ goaltending and defensive trends. Game 1 hit the under, and another low-scoring game could be on the way.
Carolina’s defense and puck control are a big problem for Washington. The Capitals don’t generate many shots, and Carolina doesn’t give up many chances. Thompson could keep it close again, but Carolina has more depth and balance. Expect another tight game, but Carolina should take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Pick: Hurricanes -130
