The Washington Capitals are set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs conference semifinals on Thursday. The Hurricanes currently lead the series 1-0 after securing a 2-1 overtime victory in the opener, highlighted by a goal from Jaccob Slavin.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
Looking at the betting lines, Carolina enters the game as the moneyline favorite at -135, meaning a $135 wager would win $100. The Capitals are the underdog at +115, offering a $115 return on a $100 bet. The total goals for the game is set at 5.5. On the puck line, the Hurricanes are -1.5 with odds of +195.
Predictions
Capitals +1.5 Puck Line
Recent history between these two teams suggests close contests, with their last two meetings being decided by just a single goal. Following a Game 1 where Washington was significantly outshot (33-14), expect Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals to push harder offensively to avoid falling into a 2-0 series deficit before heading to Raleigh. Statistical models indicate a strong probability of the Capitals covering the puck line.
Under 5.5 Total Goals
Both Carolina and Washington have seen lower-scoring affairs in the postseason, with the Under hitting in four out of their six playoff games so far. Both starting goaltenders, Frederik Andersen for Carolina and Logan Thompson for Washington, have performed well throughout their teams` playoff runs. Additionally, Carolina possesses one of the league`s solid defensive units.
Sebastian Aho 1+ Assists
Prior to Game 1, the Finnish forward was productive with five assists across his last four games. He also demonstrated playmaking ability against the Capitals during the regular season, registering three assists in four matchups. Despite being kept off the scoresheet in the series opener in Washington D.C., Aho is due to contribute offensively.
