Alex Ovechkin is always in the spotlight and will be crucial as the Washington Capitals face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday. Carolina holds a strong 3-1 series advantage, and the action returns to Washington D.C., where the Great 8 will need to perform to keep the Caps` playoff hopes alive.
Game 5 is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. The current odds show Carolina as a -170 favorite on the money line, while Washington is a +142 underdog. The total goals over/under is set at 5.5, and Carolina is also favored on the puck line at -1.5 (+154).
The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, has been successful in the 2025 NHL playoffs. It has a combined record of 79-55 on top-rated puck-line and over/under picks heading into the second week of the conference semifinals.
Based on this analysis, here are the model`s recommended prop bets for Alex Ovechkin in the Capitals vs. Hurricanes Game 5:
- Under 3.5 shots on goal (-145)
- Over 0.5 points (-165)
- Anytime goal-scorer (+145)
Ovechkin significantly increased his shots on goal after being limited to just one in Game 1. However, that low output brought his series average down, and he has exceeded 3.5 shots only once since Game 1. The SportsLine model projects 3.2 SOG for Ovechkin in Game 5, suggesting the Under is the favored play.
The Capitals captain had a three-game scoreless streak against Carolina before registering a point in Game 4. This brings his playoff total to four points (three goals, one assist) across five home games so far in these playoffs.
Ovechkin has a history of performing in elimination games, ranking ninth all-time in NHL playoff history with 13 goals in 29 such contests. He has already demonstrated his scoring ability in these playoffs with both a game-opening goal and an overtime winner, indicating he can find the net at any moment.
This covers the key Alex Ovechkin prop bets for the Capitals vs. Hurricanes Game 5. For picks on every game in the 2025 NHL playoffs, consult the SportsLine model, which has a strong record on top-rated puck-line and over/under bets in the conference semifinals.
