The Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes are set to battle at PNC Arena in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 22, and fans at home will be able to see this divisional matchup live on NBC Sports Network.
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes Odds
Washington (-105) is currently the underdog to Carolina (-115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. If gamblers want to play this matchup’s total, they’ll be looking at odds of -105 for the over and -115 for the under.
Washington is 51-36 straight up (SU) and has netted 7.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. 44 of its contests have gone over the total, while 40 have gone under and just three have pushed. The Caps are 24-19 SU as the away team in 2018-19.
Following a regular season where they converted 21.6 percent of all power-play opportunities (the 12th-best), the Capitals have been able to score on 31.6 percent of their postseason power plays.
Washington’s offensive skaters attempted 30.1 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.4 goals per contest (ranked fifth overall in the NHL). In the postseason, however, the club is dropped to an average of 25.6 shots on goal (and down to 3.0 goals per game).
Averaging 27.8 saves per game with a .912 save percentage, Braden Holtby (35-29-7) has been the best option in goal for Washington this season. If head coach Todd Reirden decides to rest him, however, Washington might turn to Pheonix Copley (17-10-3 record, .905 save percentage, 2.90 goals against average).
Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Capitals. Ovechkin (96 points) is up to 54 goals and 42 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 24 different games. Backstrom has 27 goals and 55 assists to his name (and has logged a point in 51 games).
On the other bench, Carolina is 48-39 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.7 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Through 87 regular season matches, 48 of its games have gone under the total, while 37 have gone over and just two have pushed. The team’s 26-17 SU at home this year.
Carolina has converted on 17.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.6 percent of all penalties.
Carolina skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game this season, and 4.2 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s been forced to kill penalties 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Petr Mrazek (24.9 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for Carolina. Mrazek has 25 wins, 20 losses, and four OT losses to his name and has registered a .911 save percentage and 2.44 goals against average this season.
Sebastian Aho (31 goals, 55 assists) will pace the offensive counter for the Hurricanes.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes Free Picks
NHL Prediction: SU Winner – Hurricanes, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the game went over the total in three of their past five matchups.
- The Hurricanes have averaged the league’s most shots on goal (34.2) while the Capitals have attempted the 22nd-most (just 34.2).
- Carolina is scoring 3.0 goals per game over its three-game win streak.
- Including the regular season, the Canes have recorded the seventh-most hits per game in the NHL (25.9), but the club has averaged 33.0 over their past five home games.
