The Washington Capitals (21-8-2) welcome the Carolina Hurricanes (20-10-1) to Capital One Arena on Friday night in a crucial Metropolitan Division matchup between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams.
Both teams enter the contest riding different momentum waves, with the Hurricanes coming off consecutive victories including a commanding 4-0 shutout against the Islanders, while the Capitals look to bounce back from two straight losses.
The high-powered offenses will be on full display as Washington's 3.81 goals per game meets Carolina's 3.61 average, with Dylan Strome and Connor McMichael leading the Capitals' attack while Martin Necas and Sebastian Aho spearhead the Hurricanes' scoring efforts.
Recent history favors the Hurricanes, who have won seven of the last ten meetings between these division rivals, including both matchups this season.
The goaltending battle will likely feature Pyotr Kochetkov (.902 save percentage) for Carolina against Washington's Charlie Lindgren (.899 save percentage), with both netminders looking to make their mark on this important divisional clash.
As these Metropolitan powerhouses prepare to face off, fans can expect an intense battle that could have significant implications for the division standings and playoff positioning.
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes: who will win?
For tonight's Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes matchup, our predictive model gives the Capitals a 53.33% chance of defeating the Hurricanes.
Washington Capitals: 53.33% win probability
- Superior goal differential (+35 goals, 118 scored vs 83 against)
- Better win percentage (21 wins in 31 games, 67.7% win rate)
- Strong recent form (LLWWW with 44 points in standings)
Carolina Hurricanes: 46.67% win probability
- Lower points total (41 points vs Capitals' 44 points)
- Fewer goals scored (112 goals vs Capitals' 118)
- Less consistent recent form (WWLWL compared to Capitals' LLWWW)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts.
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes odds
| Washington Capitals | Carolina Hurricanes | |
|---|---|---|
| moneyline | +120 (via DraftKings Sportsbook) | -140 (via Caesars Sportsbook) |
Key stats
- 1The Washington Capitals have won 21 out of 31 matches this season.
- 2The Carolina Hurricanes have won 20 out of 31 matches this season.
- 3With 44 points, the Washington Capitals holds the 2nd position in the league standings.
- 4Carolina Hurricanes's 41 points place them 5th in the rankings.
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes form
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes head to head
Washington Capitals
33%
Carolina Hurricanes
67%
Nov 3, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
4 : 2
Washington Capitals
Apr 5, 2024
Carolina Hurricanes
4 : 2
Washington Capitals
Mar 22, 2024
Washington Capitals
7 : 6
Carolina Hurricanes
Jan 6, 2024
Washington Capitals
2 : 6
Carolina Hurricanes
Dec 17, 2023
Carolina Hurricanes
1 : 2
Washington Capitals
Feb 19, 2023
Carolina Hurricanes
4 : 1
Washington Capitals
