Tonight’s matchup features Game 4 in the series between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Before the series began, the Washington Capitals were -165 favorites to advance. However, with the Capitals now down 2-1 in the series, the tables have turned, and they are now the underdogs at +117 to win the series.
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NHL Pick
- Under 5.5 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Monday, May 12, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at Lenovo Center
Washington Up Against It
The Washington Capitals knew when they lost Game 1 on home ice that it was going to be an uphill battle. With the Hurricanes winning Game 1 and Game 3, they now hold a 2-1 advantage. With tonight’s game taking place in Carolina, the Hurricanes will be hoping to hold a 3-1 series lead before they head back to Washington.
The Hurricanes have continued their regular season defensive form and carried it into the playoffs, having allowed only 11 goals in 5 games against the New Jersey Devils in Round One. They have only allowed 1, 3 and 0 goals against the Capitals with a shutout victory last time out. The Hurricanes have thus allowed 1.9 goals per game in the playoffs thus far, which is an incredibly formidable defence.
The Capitals are up against it on the road tonight, with the Hurricanes being 13-2 in their previous 15 home games and 6-7 in their last seven home games against the Capitals. It’s hard to see the Capitals having it their own way tonight.
It doesn’t help that Washington is 2-8 in its previous 10 road games.
Alex Ovechkin Shut Down
Although the Washington Capitals have been firing on all cylinders this season, it must be noted that the majority of their goals and points come from the top NHL goalscorer of all time, Alex Ovechkin.
The issue is the Hurricanes know this and have shut down Ovechkin thus far this series, having allowed zero points from his hand, whilst also only allowing him 2.4 shots so far in the series. For context, Ovechkin’s regular-season shots per game were 3.9 per game. The Hurricanes have been able to limit Ovechkin to 15 minutes per game, when his season average is 18 minutes per game.
Regular Season Matchups
These teams met four times in the regular season, with both teams winning two games apiece. Alexander Ovechkin only faced the Hurricanes twice, scoring one point in both games. Funny enough, both games Ovechkin played in the Capitals lost, and both times he missed, they came out as winners.
Team Stats & Trends
- Washington is 2-6 in its last 8 games on the road.
- The total has gone Under in 5 of Washington’s last 6 games against an opponent in the Metropolitan Division.
- Washington is 1-6 in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Carolina.
- The total has gone Under in 6 of Carolina’s last 8 games.
- Carolina is 8-1 in its last 9 games at home.
The Pick
There is no doubt that, compared to the Hurricanes (-200), the Washington Capitals hold the value on the moneyline at +200. However, these teams hold these odds for a reason, and we just can’t seem to pull the trigger on the Capitals, no matter how enticing those odds are.
Our computer is predicting a 3-2 victory for the Carolina Hurricanes, and we personally liked this game to go Under 5.5 goals, so we are prepared to lay the -110 juice to bet on Game 4 going Under 5.5 goals at -110.
NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-110) at Bet365
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
