We're finally here. Its round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Washington Capitals are going head to head with the Carolina Hurricanes beginning tonight.
How to watch, betting odds, and more
Puck drop is at 7 p.m. from Capital One Arena and you can catch the game on ESPN. Monumental Sports Network will have hour long pre and postgame shows. 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 goal underdogs on home ice. The Caps have +118 moneyline odds while the Hurricanes are favored at -140. The over/under for tonight's game is set at 5.5 goals.
This will mark the second all time playoff meeting between the two teams and the first since 2019. The Capitals and Hurricanes split the season sereis with the home team winning each contest.
Washington is 28-21 (.571) in Game 1s in best of seven series all time and 18-12 (.600) in Game 1s played at home. The Capitals won three straight Game 1s played at Capital One Arena including a 4-2 win over Carolina in the opening game of their first round series in 2019.
Aliaksei Protas finally drew back into the lineup in Game 5 of the first round after being out due to injury. Protas, who had 53 points with 13 goals and 40 assists in 169 career games prior to the start of this season, recorded 66 points in 76 games played in 2024-25 with 30 goals and 36 assists.
The six foot six, 247 pound forward set career highs in goals, assists, and points, far exceeding his previously established highs. Protas ranked third on the Capitals in goals, tied for third in points and fourth in assists.
60 of Protas' 66 points came at even strength which led the Caps and his five on five points ranked tied for 11th in the NHL. Protas also ranked third in the league in plus/minus with a +40.
During the regular season the Capitals had a record of 39-2-4 when Protas recorded a point. Him being back is a welcome sign as this will be a tough opponent the Caps will be facing.