SportsLine's proven model has simulated Washington vs. Carolina in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs second round on Tuesday 10,000 times

There is a huge difference between how the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals try to score goals. The Hurricanes have by far the highest shot volume in the NHL playoffs, while the Capitals led by NHL career goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin are more selective and use their defense to generate offense by focring turnovers.

In arguably the most predictable outcome of the first round, the first and second seeds from the Metropolitan Division are facing off in Round Two. The top-seeded Capitals handled the young Canadiens in five games, and the No. 2 Hurricanes had a gentleman’s sweep of their own against the ailing Devils.