Tonight the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes squre off at Lenovo Center at 6 p.m. for Game 3 in a 1-1 series tie after the squads split the first two games in D.C. You can catch the game on TNT, truTV, and MAX and also listen to the game on 106.7 The Fan and Caps Radio 24/7.
The Capitals vs Hurricanes betting odds on Caesars have the Capitals as 1.5 underdogs on the road. Washington has +192 moneyline odds while the Hurricanes are favored to win at -235. The over/under is set for 5.5 goals.
In two games against Carolina, the Capitals have allowed three goals against. Washington has held their opponents to two or fewer goals in six of their seven games this postseason and have allowed a combined 12 goals against (2.14 goals average per games played) which is tied with the Hurricanes for the lowest total among playoff teams.
The Capitals have allowed just nine goals against at five on five which is the fewest among the remaining playoff teams. In Game 2 against the Hurricanes, Connor McMichael gave the Caps a 1-0 lead 2:16 into the second period.
Washington would retain that lead and add two goals to the mix. The Capitals have yet to trail through two games against Carolina and have held the lead for a league high 63:33 of total game time which accounts for 51.6 percent in the second round, per Natural Stat Trick.
Washington is the only team playing in the Second Round who has not trailed at any point. Through seven playoff games, the Capitals have had the lead for a total of 215:17 which is the third highest total among playoff teams behind the Toronto Maple Leafs at 261:09 and the St. Louis Blues at 227:29.
With the Hurricanes having home ice for Games 3 and 4 it'll be a loud and raucous environment down there and the players are aware.
"It's obviously going to be a tough couple of games. We can't go in thinking it's going to be easy or anything. I'm sure their crowds and their atmosphere are going to be loud, and we've just got to go in there and play for game and be comfortable and embrace that villain attitude. There's going to be a lot of booing and cheering going on, so just embrace it and have fun with it. "Andrew Mangiapane
The Caps won Game 2 by bouncing back in a big way from Game 1. It wasn't shocking considering that all season long their style of hockey was follwoing up losses with better performances the next game.
Tom Wilson played a big part in the Game 2 victory. It was to the point Spencer Carbery said he "led the charge". He did so by blocking some shots at criticial stages of the game and they came in the waning minutes in each of the game's first two periods.
Wilson also earned the primary assist on John Carlson's game winner then scored the empty net goal to put a stamp on it. Wilson has picked up at least a point in each of Washington's five playoff wins.
"He's been doing it all year long. It's nothing new with that guy. When we need a spark, he's there to provide it. And if you need a big play or a big goal, he's the one doing it. You can't say enough good things about him. "Connor McMichael
The shot blocking helped the Caps become only the third team since 2005-06 to string together consecutive games with more than 30 blocked sohts. Logan Thompson would do the rest in net. He only allowed one goal in Game 2 and it came on the power play. That was it, the only blemish.
The Caps lead all 16 playoff teams with 22.84 shot blocks per 60 mintues this postseason. For the Hurricanes, they still do a good job controlling puck possession. They'll look do that again in the comforts of their own barn.
As for the Caps the key tonight is to score early and score often. Take the crowd out of it early. Do that and there's a good chance at a win.