The Washington Capitals face a potential elimination game as they host the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Hurricanes hold a significant 3-1 lead in the series following two consecutive victories on home ice, winning Game 3 by a score of 4-0 and Game 4 by 5-2. The crucial Game 5 is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
Carolina is set as the favorite for this matchup, with a money line of -170, while Washington is the underdog at +142. The projected total number of goals for the game is set at 5.5. The Hurricanes also have a puck line advantage at -1.5 with odds of +154. Insights for this game are available from SportsLine`s highly-regarded projection model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates each NHL game 10,000 times. Heading into the second week of the conference semifinals in the 2025 NHL playoffs, the model boasts an impressive record of 79-55 on its top-rated NHL puck-line and over/under wagers, delivering over $1,600 in returns for players betting $100. Followers of the model have seen considerable success.
Best Bets for Capitals vs. Hurricanes Game 5:
Capitals +1.5 (-185)
While Carolina demonstrated dominance in their home games during the series, Washington has managed to keep scores tighter when playing at home. The Capitals, led by players like Alex Ovechkin, have successfully covered the puck line in four out of their five playoff games played on home ice. Their only failure to cover was a close 2-1 overtime loss to the Hurricanes in the opening game of the conference semifinals. The SportsLine model strongly predicts that the Capitals will cover the puck line in Game 5, doing so in more than 80% of its simulations.
Andrei Svechnikov over 2.5 shots on goal (-155)
The Russian winger has hit the `over` on 2.5 shots on goal in three of his last four appearances. Over his nine playoff games this season, he has recorded a total of 31 shots, which includes a notable game earlier in the playoffs against the New Jersey Devils where he registered six shots.
Dylan Strome 1+ points (-190)
Dylan Strome currently leads all players from both teams in playoff scoring, accumulating 11 points through nine games. This total includes an impressive nine assists over that span, with two assists coming against Carolina. Strome also had a productive regular season at home, tallying 44 points (14 goals and 30 assists) in 41 games.
