The Washington Capitals, led by Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, are set to take the ice against Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena for a divisional showdown. The action gets going at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, December 14 and it’ll be televised live on NBC Sports Washington.
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Moneyline odds have not yet been posted for this matchup.
Washington is 18-12 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 3.0 units this season. Through 30 regular season matches, 17 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2018-19 Capitals team is 9-6 SU on the road.
Washington has converted on 26.9 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the top-5 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it has successfully killed off 77.8 percent of all penalties..
Averaging 28.3 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Braden Holtby (12-10-3) has been the top option in goal for Washington this year. If Washington chooses to rest him, however, they may turn to Pheonix Copley (7-3-1), who has a .902 save percentage and 2.95 goals against average this year.
Over on the other bench, Carolina is 13-17 straight up (SU) and has lost 9.2 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 30 regular season contests, 20 of its games have gone under the total, while nine have gone over and none have pushed. It’s 7-8 SU as the home team this year.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 15.8 percent of their power play chances this year, a figure that’s ranked 25th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Curtis McElhinney (27.0 saves per game) has been the top selection in goal for the Hurricanes. McElhinney has seven wins, four losses, and one overtime loss to his credit and has recorded a .920 save percentage and 2.36 goals against average this season.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner \u2013 Hurricanes, O/U \u2013 Under
Betting Trends
- Both teams are 1-1 in games decided by shootout.
- The total has gone under in four of Carolina’s last five outings.
- Washington has managed 27.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Carolina has been attempting 34.6 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Over Washington’s last ten games, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 8-1 in those games).
- The Hurricanes this season have tallied the fifth-most hits per game in the NHL (26.9), but that number has climbed to 33.2 over their last five games as the home team.
