The Carolina Hurricanes (43-15-7) travel to meet the Washington Capitals (37-20-10) at Capital One Arena Monday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (NHLN). Below, we look at the Hurricanes vs. Capitals odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
The Hurricanes had scored 3 or fewer goals in 13 consecutive games from Feb. 27 to March 24 before breaking out offensively with a 7-2 rout of the St. Louis Blues Saturday at Enterprise Center.
The Capitals have won back-to-back games over the Buffalo Sabres Friday and New Jersey Devils Saturday by a 4-3 score. Washington heads into this game with three victories in three tries against Carolina, outscoring the Hurricanes by a 12-5 margin this season.
- Money line: Hurricanes -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Capitals +110 (bet $100 to win $110)
- Against the spread (ATS): Hurricanes -1.5 (+175) | Capitals +1.5 (-240)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +105 | U: -130)
Hurricanes at Capitals projected goalies
Frederik Andersen (31-10-3, 2.07 GAA, .926 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Vitek Vanecek (17-9-5, 2.45 GAA, .917 SV%, 3 SO)
Andersen has managed a 2-3-1 mark in March despite a stellar 2.33 GAA and .903 SV%. That’s because the Hurricanes have scored just 14 total goals of support in his six March starts, including no goals in a 4-0 loss at Washington on March 3.
Vanecek snapped a two-game mini skid with a 4-3 win against the New Jersey Devils Saturday. He is 7-2-0 with a 2.66 GAA and .920 SV% in nine March starts, including that 4-0 win over the Canes earlier in the month.
Hurricanes at Capitals odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Capitals 3, Hurricanes 2
Money line
The CAPITALS (+110) are an outstanding value as home underdogs against a Hurricanes team they have beaten all three times they’ve met this season.
Washington has also won nine of its last 12 games at home while going 4-1 in its last five as an underdog.
Against the spread
Capitals +1.5 (-240) will cost you nearly two and half times your potential return if you’d like a little insurance. It’s not necessary, and you should PASS on the puck line and just play the Caps straight up.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-130) is the play here.
The Under is 8-3-1 in the past 12 games overall for the Hurricanes while going 7-3-1 in the past 11 against teams with a winning overall record.
The Over has been the norm for the Capitals lately, hitting in 10 of the previous 11 games overall, but the Over-Under is 1-1-1 in three meetings with the Canes this season. Look for a tight, lower-scoring game between these rivals.