A pair of teams that each took the ice last night, the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes meet at PNC Arena for a divisional tilt. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 12, and you can catch it live on NBA Sports Washington Plus.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Washington is 27-17 straight up (SU) and has earned 8.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 44 regular season contests, 24 of its games have gone over the total, while 19 have gone under and none have pushed. As an away team this season, the Caps are 9-11 SU.
Washington has converted on 19.4 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 21st out of 31 teams, and it’s successfully killed off 79.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Caps have been called for penalties 4.2 times per game this season, and 2.8 per game over its past five match ups. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .917 save percentage, Braden Holtby (24-9) has been the primary option in goal for Washington this season. Holtby did just play last night, however, so head coach Barry Trotz may decide to rest him and turn to Philipp Grubauer instead (3-11-3 record, .916 save percentage, 2.56 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin (46 points) is up to 27 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 12 different games. Kuznetsov has 13 goals and 27 assists to his credit (and has registered at least one point in 25 games).
On the other side of the ice, Carolina is 20-23 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 20 of its outings have gone over the total, while another 20 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 10-8 SU as the home team this year.
The Hurricanes have converted on just 16.9 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that places them in the bottom 10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.6 percent of all penalties.
Hurricanes players have been sent to the penalty box only 2.7 times per game in total this season, and 1.8 per game over their last five contests. The teams had to kill penalties just 4.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Scott Darling has stopped 24.6 shots per game as the primary option in goal for the Hurricanes. Darling has nine wins, 18 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has maintained a subpar .896 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average this year.
Sebastian Aho (15 goals, 20 assists) and Teuvo Teravainen (11 goals, 24 assists) will lead the attack for the Hurricanes.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes Betting Predictions
Predictions: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Washington is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Carolina is 3-3 in shootouts.
- Washington has managed 25.4 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Carolina is averaging 33.8 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Over Carolina’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
- Washington skaters have accounted for the leagues 11th-most hits per game (22.4).
