(Photo: ESPN, NHL)
The Washington Capitals will play a elimination game today against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Caps are down 3-1 in this best of 7 series and the Caps need a big game from all of there team if they want too go play a game 6 in Raleigh, Carolina.
It all comes down to finishing in this series and the fact is the Hurricanes have been the better finishing team this series. Do not let the series deficit warn you both these teams have had an even amount of chances this series as the Caps have had 39 high danger chances compared to the 40 the Hurricanes have had. The only difference is the finishing it seems like Carolina is the way more effective team at finishing and thats why they hold this commanding 3-1 series lead. The Caps will also need a lot of help from star winger and grit guy Tom Wilson. Wilson has not done much this series outside of his game 3 performance. If they want to win they need Wilson to lock in.
The Caps head coach Spencer Carbery is trying to shake some things up in his line up tonight as rumours suggest the Caps will move Connor McMicheal to centre replacing veteran forward Lars Eller. Here is the tweet down below shwing the line ups in practice https://x.com/sammisilber/status/1922666259428016344
The greatest goal scorer of all time is expected to have a big game tonight by fans as you never know this could be his final playoff game ever, but this team is still very good and i do expect them to make the playoffs next year as well. The Hurricanes goaltender Freddy Anderson has been unbelievable this playoff series as he has only given up 6 goals this whole series in 4 games. Anderson has a .935 save percentage this series. All credit cannot be given to him though as the Canes defence has been shut down all series long.
I think that this series will follow the events of all the games that have been played this series. This will be a low paced low scoring affair. Both goaltenders will play great and both will not be tested as much in this game. I am predicting no goals in the first 2 periods for either team. This game will go to a double overtime and i think the Capitals will keep there season alive with a Tom Wilson Overtime game winning goal.