NHL Odds, Preview, Prediction: Capitals vs. Hurricanes
RALEIGH, NC – FEBRUARY 16: An aerial view of Carter-Finley Stadium ahead of the NHL Stadium Series on February 16, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
- The Hurricanes host the Capitals in Saturday night NHL action.
- This game will be played outdoors as part of the NHL Stadium Series and our expert thinks those conditions will have an impact on the total.
- Continue reading for Tony Sartori's best bet and analysis.
Capitals vs. Hurricanes Odds
| Capitals Odds | +162 |
| Hurricanes Odds | -196 |
| Over/Under | 5.5 (-108/-112) |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via FanDuel. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
In Saturday's marquee Stadium Series Game, there is a Metropolitan Division tilt with the first-place Carolina Hurricanes hosting the fifth-place Washington Capitals.
Here's a look at the odds, as well as our betting pick and prediction for Capitals vs. Hurricanes.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals enter this contest amidst a flurry of low-scoring contests, with five or fewer goals scored in three of their past four games. This trend is likely to continue for a variety of reasons.
First of all, the Capitals are missing a ton of fire power offensively. Alex Ovechkin (personal), John Carlson (face) and Tom Wilson (lower body) are all slated to miss this contest.
Injuries have plagued this team's offensive production all season, which is the primary reason they rank in the bottom half of the league in expected goals for per 60 minutes (xGF/60) at 5-on-5. On the flip side, the defense has fared just fine as Washington ranks 13th in expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) at 5-on-5.
Backing up this defensively solid group is goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who has been tremendous since joining the club. Through 37 starts this season, Kuemper boasts a .914 save percentage (SV%) and a 2.63 goals against average (GAA).
This strong play should continue against Carolina, a team he has fared well against over the past couple of seasons. Over his past four starts against the Canes, Kuemper possesses a .925 SV% and a 2.49 GAA.
Carolina Hurricanes
A big reason for Carolina's first-place standing is that they are an incredibly difficult team to play against, primarily due to a tremendously deep lineup that is exceptional in both the offensive and defensive zones. At 5-on-5, the Canes rank first in the league in xGA/60.
Backing up this defense is goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has been terrific in the crease since returning from injury. Over his past nine appearances, he is 7-1 with a .907 SV% and a 2.50 GAA.
Across his past three starts against the Caps, Andersen is 3-0 with a .939 SV% and a 1.62 GAA. In fact, his most recent start came against Washington just under a week ago.
In that contest, Andersen and Kuemper battled in a great goaltending duel that saw just five total goals scored.
Capitals vs. Hurricanes Pick
We should expect to see another defensive struggle between these teams. The under cashed between these teams less than a week ago, and this contest should be an even bigger struggle because it's outdoors.
In outdoor games, the ice is typically much worse, especially as the game progresses. With worse ice, speed is decreased and puck handling and shooting ability dip, which makes the under an enticing play.
The weather in Raleigh — temperatures in the mid-50s with on-and-off rain — has been terrible for ice conditions. The NHL will do a great job in ensuring the ice will be as good as possible Saturday, but it will likely look similar to the Winter Classic, when the Bruins beat the Penguins 2-1 at Fenway Park.
Pick: Under 5.5 (-110) | Play to -125 |
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