Carolina Hurricanes vs Washington Capitals Prediction, Preview and Odds - 05/15/2025

Game Time: 7:00 pm ET, Thursday, May 15, 2025

Venue:  Capital One Arena, Washington, DC

Where to Watch:  TNT, MAX, truTV

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -170, Capitals +142; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -170, Capitals +145; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Hurricanes -175, Capitals +145; Over/Under:  5.5 goals

Carolina Hurricanes:  47-30-5 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

Washington Capitals:  51-22-9 (1st place, Metropolitan Division)

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Carolina Hurricanes:  7-2-1 last 10

Washington Capitals:  5-4-1 last 10

The Hurricanes are entering the playoffs with 99 points, a 47-30-5 record overall, and they were 16-21-4 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a win against the Washington Capitals in their last game, winning that one at home 5-2. Taylor Hall, Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere, Seth Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Taylor Hall, Sean Walker, Sebastian Aho, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jordan Martinook, Dmitry Orlov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, and Jordan Staal each led the team in assists with 1 while Taylor Hall and Seth Jarvis each led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Frederik Andersen was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 21 shots with 19 saves and a .905 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 266 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 233 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The Capitals are entering the playoffs with 111 points, a 51-22-9 record overall, and they were 26-9-6 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game, losing that one on the road 5-2. Jakob Chychrun and Alexander Ovechkin each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Matt Roy, and Dylan Strome each led the team in assists with 1 while Jakob Chychrun, Alexander Ovechkin, and Dylan Strome each led the team in shots on net in that game with 3. Logan Thompson was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 36 shots with 32 saves and a .889 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 288 goals this season averaging 3.5 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 232 goals against them allowing 2.8 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Hurricanes listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. This is game 5 of a 7 game series between the 1st seeded Capitals and the 2nd seeded Hurricanes from the Metropolitan Division for the 2nd round of the NHL Eastern Conference playoffs. The Hurricanes are leading this series 3-1 after winning game 4 at home. The Hurricanes took a 3-1 series lead with a 5-2 win over the Capitals in the 4th game of this series and they have looked like the better team in every game. Even in the 1 game that the Capitals won at home, the Hurricanes still outplayed them in that one. The Capitals weren't able to do anything in those 2 road games and their offense has struggled to score goals throughout this entire series. The Capitals are going to be in a desperate situation here since they are facing elimination at home, but they just haven't shown that they can compete with the Hurricanes in this series. The Hurricanes have one of the hottest goalies in the playoffs right now and the Capitals just haven't been able to solve him. The Hurricanes are starting to roll now with those 2 wins in a row at home so they have all the momentum on their side coming into this one and they are going to continue doing what they have been doing all series to frustrate the Capitals. The best way to place a bet here is on the Hurricanes to win this game and on the puckline. 

Hurricanes Capitals Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, May 15, 2025 (7:00 pm ET start time) is Hurricanes 4 Capitals 1.

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Carolina Hurricanes: 13-6 (+4.8 units) on the moneyline when leading in a playoff series. 99-62 (+5.3 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 101-65 (+5.6 units) on the moneyline against good passing teams - averaging 5 or more assists per game. 36-17 UNDER when playing with 2 days rest.

Washington Capitals: 21-28 (-12.1 units) on the moneyline off a road blowout loss by 3 goals or more. 65-83 (-7.8 units) on the moneyline against explosive offensive teams - scoring 3+ goals/game. 67-84 (-7.6 units) on the moneyline against good offensive teams - averaging 29.5+ shots on goal per game. 28-17 UNDER when playing with 2 days rest.

Carolina Hurricanes:  M. Jankowski (C) Day To Day - Undisclosed. J. Fast (RW) Out For Season - Neck.

Washington Capitals:  M. Fehervary (D) Out For Season - Meniscus. S. Milano (LW) Out - Upper-body. N. Backstrom (C) Out For Season - Hip. T. Oshie (RW) Out For Season - Back.

“The kill was huge tonight. It’s all about timing, too. Six minutes of penalties in the first period, that takes you right out of anything. To be able to come out with the lead was a big key.” - Rod Brind’Amour after his team’s win against the Capitals in game 4 of this series on Monday.

"We're giving ourselves some opportunity. We're just not executing, making the play, whatever you want to call it, and making some mistakes, and they're capitalizing.” - Spencer Carbery after his team’s loss against the Hurricanes in game 4 of this series on Monday.

LW Andrei Svechnikov

C Sebastian Aho

RW Seth Jarvis

LD Jaccob Slavin

RD Brent Burns

G Frederik Andersen

LW Alex Ovechkin

C Dylan Strome

RW Tom Wilson

LD Jakob Chychrun

RD John Carlson

G Logan Thompson

Points: S. Aho (74)

Goals: S. Jarvis (32)

Assists: S. Aho (45)

GAA: F. Andersen (2.50)

Points: D. Strome (82)

Goals: A. Ovechkin (44)

Assists: D. Strome (53)

GAA: L. Thompson (2.49)

Coaches:

Carolina Hurricanes: Rod Brind'Amour (7th season)

Washington Capitals: Spencer Carbery (2nd season)