The Washington Capitals aim to level the series when they face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs conference semifinals this Thursday. Carolina secured a 2-1 overtime victory in the opening game on the road, with Jaccob Slavin playing a crucial role.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C.
In the latest odds, Carolina is listed as a -135 favorite on the money line, while Washington is a +115 underdog. The over/under for total goals is set at 5.5. Carolina is also favored on the puck line at -1.5 (+195).
These betting recommendations are derived from SportsLine`s established projection model. This model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times and has demonstrated a strong performance in the 2025 NHL playoffs conference semifinals, holding a combined record of 78-55 on top-rated puck-line and over/under picks.
Capitals +1.5 (-230)
Recent encounters between these two teams have been tight, with the last two meetings decided by just one goal. The model anticipates another close contest in Game 2, particularly favoring the home team to stay within a goal. Carolina significantly outshot Washington 33-14 in Game 1, suggesting Washington will push back offensively to avoid a 2-0 series deficit before heading to Raleigh. The SportsLine model projects the Capitals covering the puck line in over 80% of simulations.
Under 5.5 Goals (-102)
The trend for low-scoring games has been prevalent in the playoffs for both squads, with the Under hitting in four out of six games for each team. Strong goaltending has been a factor, with Frederik Andersen for Carolina and Logan Thompson for Washington both performing well in the postseason. Additionally, Carolina boasts a solid defensive unit, featuring key player Jaccob Slavin.
Sebastian Aho 1+ Assist (+114)
Prior to Game 1, the Finnish forward was productive, recording five assists over his previous four games. He also registered three assists across four regular-season games against the Capitals. After being held off the scoresheet in the series opener, Aho is expected to bounce back and contribute offensively with at least one assist in Game 2.
