Hurricanes Road Favorites At Capitals In Tuesday NHL Playoffs

• What: NHL Playoffs
• Who: Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals
• When: Tuesday, May 6, 7:00 p.m.

The Washington Capitals may be Metropolitan Division regular-season champions, but as they ready to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the NHL playoffs, it's the Hurricanes holding a slight edge. Carolina has won six of the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

Perhaps that explains why oddsmakers are going with the road team as the betting chalk. The Hurricanes are -125 away favorites.

Let's look at the latest betting line on this game. Remember, odds are subject to change.

	Puck Line	Moneyline	Total
Carolina Hurricanes	-1.5 (+210)	-125	O 5.5 (-128)
Washington Capitals	+1.5 (-250)	+105	U 5.5 (-107)

Both the Hurricanes and Capitals made short work of their first-round opponents, winning their series in five games. Carolina downed the New Jersey Devils, while Washington ousted the Montreal Canadiens.

There are two games in the NHL playoffs on the docket on Tuesday night. This game is the one that we think provides the best bet of the night in the NHL playoffs betting.

Best NHL Playoffs Bets For You

Before we make a deeper assessment of which way to lean in the NHL playoffs bets for this Hurricanes vs Capitals second-round series opener, why not take a look at our handy best NHL betting sites list to make the most out of your bets, including the latest props and futures wagering. With the playoffs underway, you may also want to service your NHL betting needs on a more comprehensive basis by checking out our NHL playoffs page. And if you're still looking to get a wager down on which NHL team is going to win the title, check out the latest betting lines on our Stanley Cup futures page.

Hurricanes vs Capitals NHL Playoffs Betting Trends

This is just the second meeting in the NHL playoffs between the Capitals and Hurricanes. In the 2019 opening round, Carolina eliminated reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington in seven games.

In head-to-head meetings, the Capitals are 4-2 straight up in the last six clashes with the Hurricanes. At Washington, the Capitals are 3-0 SU in the past three games.

Carolina is 8-4 SU in the last 12 games against Washington. Overall, the Hurricanes are 4-1 SU in their past five  games. However, Carolina is 1-7 SU in the club's last eight road games. The Hurricanes are 4-2 SU in their last six games facing Eastern Conference opposition.

Washington is 4-1 SU in the past five games and 11-2 SU in the club's last 13 home games. Facing Eastern Conference opposition, the Capitals are 5-2 SU in the last seven games.

The over is 4-1-2 in the last seven games between these two teams. In Washington, the over is 3-1 in the last four visits by Carolina.

The over is 5-4-1 in Carolina's last 10 games. But the over is 7-2-1 in the club's past 10 road games. Facing Metropolitan Division teams, six of Carolina's last nine games have gone over.

Three of Washington's past five games have gone over. Each of the Capitals' last four home games went under. The over is 14-11-1 this season when the Caps are facing Metropolitan Division squads.

The Capitals are 20-13-1 SU as a betting underdog this season. Washington is 25-19 against the puck line as a home team. Carolina is 14-29 against the puck line as the away club. The Hurricanes are 48-31-6 SU as the favorite in the betting line.

Injury Makes Andersen Uncertain Starter

Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen, just signed to a contract extension, is leading the NHL playoffs with a .936 save percentage. However, he suffered a head injury in Game 4 of the opening-round win over the Devils.

"I really just love it here. The years I've been here, we've had really competitive teams, and the area is awesome...

I'm very happy to be able to stay here, and to stay another year on a team that has very high expectations."

Frederik Andersen after signing his extension. pic.twitter.com/jmXLs5xDnu

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) May 4, 2025

Pyotor Kochetkov got the start and the win in the series-clinching Game 5 triumph. He made 31 saves.

Logan Thompson will be between the pipes for Washington. Posting a 31-6-6 mark during the regular season, he's continued that level of performance into the postseason. Thompson is second only to Andersen with a .923 save percentage.

Intriguing Special Teams Matchup

Carolina's power play was just 18th in the NHL during the regular season. However, against the Devils, the Hurricanes tallied six power-play goals for the series and at least one man-advantage goal in four of the five games.

There's hope that this uptick in potency could continue against Washington. The Capitals allowed Montreal to net five power-play goals in 15 chances (33.3%) during first-round action.

CAPS TODAY: Alex Ovechkin (52g-55a–107p in 93 GP) is the leading point scorer against the Hurricanes among active players. Ovechkin’s 107 points in regular season play versus Carolina are the most he has recorded against a single opponent in his career: https://t.co/EwA0dwZwZb pic.twitter.com/VfToSRaltL

— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) May 5, 2025

Washington's power play runs through NHL all-time goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals captain counted two power-play goals in Round 1.

Carolina vs Washington NHL Playoffs Best Bet

One concern with Thompson is that the Capitals goalie is 0-2 with nine goals allowed in two career starts against Carolina.  

Carolina Hurricanes To defeat Washington Capitals

-125

Bet Now!

With their relentless pressure and shot-first attitude, the Hurricanes are a team that's built for playoff hockey. Look for Carolina to take it to Washington and come away with a Game 1 victory in NHL playoffs betting.