The Carolina Hurricanes (18-9-2) travel to face the Washington Capitals (18-9-3) in a marquee Metropolitan Division showdown at Capital One Arena, where first place in the East hangs in the balance. Carolina, winners of three of their last five, boasts the league’s second-best shot volume (33.2 per game) but must contend with a Caps team that’s won four of five, fueled by Logan Thompson’s stingy .925 SV% and Alex Ovechkin’s resurgent scoring (14 goals). With Jaccob Slavin sidelined for Carolina and John Carlson probable for Washington, this rematch of their November tilt (Caps 4-1 win) could hinge on special teams—Carolina’s 15.7% PP (27th) vs. Washington’s 75.3% PK (26th). Expect a physical, mid-six-goal affair, projecting a 3-2 Hurricanes upset on the road.
Venue Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. (capacity: 20,356). The Capitals are 10-5-1 at home, allowing just 2.4 GPG in D.C., and have covered in five of their last seven against Metro rivals.
Puckdrop: 7:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast on FDSNSO (Hurricanes), MNMT (Capitals), and ESPN+, with radio on 99.9 The Fan (CAR) and WJFK 106.7 FM (WSH).
Injury Report
Injuries are testing both benches, with Carolina’s blue line depleted and Washington’s forward depth stretched thin. Carolina leans on Frederik Andersen in net (5-7-2, 3.15 GAA), while Logan Thompson (13-6-2, 1.96 GAA) starts for the Caps amid Charlie Lindgren’s absence. Latest from Thursday skates:
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury | Notes |
| Hurricanes | Jaccob Slavin | D | Out (IR) | Lower Body | Missed 29 games; +8 rating pre-injury. Return not imminent despite practice. |
| Hurricanes | Charles-Alexis Legault | D | Out (IR) | Hand | Surgery Nov. 10 for lacerated tendons; out 3-4 months (8 GP: 1G-1A). |
| Hurricanes | Jesperi Kotkaniemi | C | Day-to-Day | Lower Body | Missed Dec. 9 win; 17 GP: 2G-3A. Status TBD. |
| Hurricanes | Pyotr Kochetkov | G | Out | Lower Body | No timeline; 11-5-1, 2.32 GAA in 17 GP. Andersen starts. |
| Hurricanes | Sebastian Aho | C | Available | None | Full practice; leads team with 26 points (9G-17A). |
| Capitals | Pierre-Luc Dubois | LW | Out (IR) | Abdomen | Surgery; out 3-4 months (6 GP: minimal impact). |
| Capitals | Ryan Leonard | RW | Out (IR) | Upper Body | Extended absence; injured Dec. 5 (no GP yet). |
| Capitals | Charlie Lindgren | G | Out (IR) | Upper Body | Placed IR Dec. 7; trending up but out vs. CAR (5-3-1, 2.90 GAA). |
| Capitals | Justin Sourdif | RW | Out | Lower Body | 29 GP: 3G-4A; no timeline. |
| Capitals | John Carlson | D | Probable | Upper Body | Full practice Dec. 10; missed three games (26 GP: 6G-17A). |
| Capitals | Alex Ovechkin | LW | Available | None | Ready; 14G, chasing milestone. |
Carolina’s D corps (without Slavin) ranks 18th in xGA/60; Washington’s absences drop their depth scoring to 24th.
Player Matchups
This divisional grudge match features elite snipers and shutdown specialists, with possession battles key:
Hurricanes C Sebastian Aho vs. Capitals C Dylan Strome
Aho (9G-17A, 26 points) dictates tempo with 51% faceoffs, facing Strome’s playmaking (10G-20A). Aho has 5 points in last three vs. WSH; Strome’s line must disrupt Carolina’s cycle (top-5 in 5v5 Corsi).
Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin vs. Hurricanes D Brent Burns
Ovechkin (14G, +14 rating) hunts milestones on the wing, drawing Burns’ veteran positioning (4G-12A). Ovi has 3 goals in last four vs. CAR; Burns’ mobility limits snipers to 1.8 SOG/game.
Hurricanes RW Seth Jarvis vs. Capitals LW Tom Wilson
Jarvis (17G, team-high) thrives in transition, matched against Wilson’s physicality (17G-15A, 1.5 PIM/game). Jarvis scored vs. WSH in November; Wilson’s hits (top-10) force turnovers.
Capitals D Jakob Chychrun vs. Hurricanes LW Andrei Svechnikov
Chychrun (8G-15A) anchors transitions, facing Svechnikov’s power (7G-10A). Chychrun held wings under 12 points in 6 of 8; Svechnikov’s shot (2.8 SOG/game) tests Caps’ PK.
Hurricanes G Frederik Andersen vs. Capitals Top Line (Ovechkin-Strome-Mangiapane)
Andersen (3.15 GAA) battles WSH’s unit (1.6 goals/game), facing 29.6 team SOG. He’s .875 SV% lately; line’s chemistry exploits screens.
Carolina’s speed edges possession, but Washington’s grit favors home ice.
Team Records
Carolina Hurricanes: 18-9-2 (2nd in Metropolitan Division)
8-4-1 on road, averaging 3.34 GPG (5th) while allowing 2.83 (11th). PP 15.7% (27th), PK 79.8% (23rd); +0.51 goal differential, 14-15 ATS.
Washington Capitals: 18-9-3 (1st in Metropolitan Division)
10-5-1 at home, averaging 3.43 GPG (3rd) and allowing 2.40 (3rd). PP 15.9% (24th), PK 75.3% (26th); +1.03 goal differential, 17-13 ATS.
Caps hold season series tiebreaker (1-0).
Recent Team Forms
Carolina’s 3-2 run shows offensive firepower (13 GF) but defensive lapses (13 GA). Washington’s 4-1 streak (19 GF, 7 GA) highlights elite D and Thompson’s form.
| Hurricanes Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. CBJ | Dec 9 | Home | W 4-1 | Bussi 23/24 saves (.958 SV%); Jarvis 17th goal, 1/4 PP. |
| vs. SJS | Dec 7 | Home | L 1-4 | Kochetkov .875 SV%; 0/3 PP, outshot 29-23. |
| vs. NSH | Dec 6 | Home | W 6-3 | Bussi 22/25; 2/6 PP, 40 SOG dominance. |
| vs. TOR | Dec 4 | Home | L 1-5 | Andersen .875 SV%; 0/3 PP, defensive collapse. |
| vs. CGY | Nov 30 | Home | W 1-0 OT | Bussi 16/16 shutout; 0/1 PP, low-event win. |
Form Notes: 3-2-0, outscored 13-13. Road 2-1 (avg +1.3 margin); Bussi 3-0, 1.67 GAA last three.
| Capitals Last 5 Games | Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| vs. CBJ | Dec 7 | Home | W 2-0 | Thompson 39/39 shutout; 0/4 PP, possession edge. |
| @ ANA | Dec 5 | Away | L 3-4 SO | Thompson .926 SV% (35/38); 0/3 PP, shootout loss. |
| @ SJS | Dec 3 | Away | W 7-1 | Lindgren 24/25; 1/2 PP, 31 SOG rout. |
| @ LAK | Dec 2 | Away | W 3-1 | Thompson .960 SV%; 1/2 PP, road resilience. |
| @ NYI | Nov 30 | Away | W 4-1 | Thompson .968 SV%; 1/3 PP, 20 SOG efficiency. |
Form Notes: 4-1-0, outscored 19-7. Home 2-0 (+2.5 margin); Thompson 4-0-1, .940 SV% last five.
Series History
All-time, Washington leads 112-80 (regular season: 108-72 Caps), but Carolina’s won three of the last five (avg 5.8 goals/game). Most recent: Nov. 11, 2025 (WSH 4-1 CAR). In D.C., Caps are 50-41-10 all-time vs. Hurricanes, taking four of six since 2020. Overs in six of 10 (avg 5.8 goals), with Washington’s PP producing five goals in last six meetings. First of three this season; playoff history favors CAR (2-0 series wins).
Betting Trends
Moneyline: 68% bets/74% handle on Capitals (-105; public fading CAR road). Caps 9-6 SU as home faves; Hurricanes 5-8 SU road dogs.
Puck Line: 60% bets on Caps +1.5 (value), 66% handle on Hurricanes -1.5 amid CAR’s 7-3 road cover streak. Caps 8-5 ATS home.
Total: 62% bets on Over 6 (79% handle), as six of 10 series over and combined 6.0 GPG. Under in six of Washington’s last nine home.
Key Trends: Hurricanes 4-11 ATS last 15; Caps 5-1 ATS last six. Sharps on Under with Thompson’s form.
Game Odds
Carolina Hurricanes – 115
Washington Capitals 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 10, 2025
