The Washington Capitals made some tweaks to their lines ahead of Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. on TNT, truTV, and Max from Capital One Arena. You can also listen to the game on 106.7 The Fan and Caps Radio 24/7.
The Hurricanes vs Capitals betting odds on Caesars have the Capitals as 1.5 underdogs on the road. The Caps have +143 moneyline odds while the Hurricanes are favored to win at -170. The over/under is set at 5.5 goals.
So these were the lines at yesterday's practice. Don't worry about the top line as Alex Ovechkin was just taking a maintenance day. But the big change comes on the third line.
Out comes Lars Eller and in comes Connor McMichael at the third line center role. This move should give the Capitals more speed on the botom six and McMichael has been known to produce.
When trailing 3-1 in a best of seven series all time, the Capitals have won Game 5 on six occasions. Washington has a 4-1 record at Capital One Arena this postseason. The Capitals have outscored the opposition 14-7 on home ice through five games.
Twice in franchise history have the Capitals comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win a series in seven games. In both prior instances, Washington won Game 5 at home to extend the series before ultimately advancing. Those came in 2009 and 1988.
This season the Capitals have won three or more consecutive games on eight different occassions. Seven of those eight streaks included at least one road win. The Capitals have lost three straight games just once all season.
McMichael scored his fourth goal of the playoffs in Game 2. His four goals rank second on the Capitals trailing only Alex Ovechkin. His goal in Game 2 marked his second game opening goal of the playoffs which is tied for the most among all skaters.
He has recorded six points in nine playoff games with four goals and two assists and has at least one point in five of Washington's last eight games. His six pionts rank tied for third on Washington trailing only Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson.
McMichael ranks second among Capitals forwards in ice time per game in the playoffs at 17:24. He'll look to make a big impact tonight as he centers Andrew Mangiapane and Ryan Leonard.