Preview: Round 2, Game 1 at WSH

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals finally begin their second-round series on Tuesday at Capital One Arena.

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When: Tuesday, May 6

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. ET

Watch (US; CAN): ESPN; SN, TVAS | Learn More | Road Game HQ

Listen: 99.9 The Fan, Hurricanes App

Odds at Time of Publishing, via Fanatics Sportsbook: Canes -120

Round 1...

• The Canes showcased their ability to win in various ways during their five-game opening-round victory over the New Jersey Devils.
• Frederik Andersen was stellar, Andrei Svechnikov finished tied for third among all Round 1 skaters with five goals, and Sebastian Aho paced the club with eight points, including the Game 5 2OT winner.
• With the victory, Carolina became the fourth franchise in NHL history to win a playoff series in seven consecutive postseasons.

We Meet Again...

• Carolina and Washington have a limited playoff history, but it's one that Canes fans will remember fondly as their club knocked off the then-defending Stanley Cup Champion Capitals in seven games in 2019. That run kicked off Carolina's current string of seven straight playoff appearances.
• Five Hurricanes from that clash (Aho, Martinook, Slavin, Staal, Svechnikov) and four Capitals (Carlson, Eller, Ovechkin, Wilson) are set to suit up for their respective clubs in the rematch. Carolina's Dmitry Orlov and Washington's Trevor van Riemsdyk will also participate in a Canes/Caps series for the second time, but will be wearing the opposite colors from their 2019 selves.

In Net...

• Although he was knocked out of Round 1 during Game 4 with an undisclosed injury, Frederik Andersen is back and available for the Canes. The veteran had been stellar before his injury, posting a 1.59 GAA and a .936 SV%, leading all starting goaltenders in both categories during the first round.
• Given that Andersen was the first choice against the Devils, it feels likely that the team would go back to him to kick off this series. However, they could stick with Pyotr Kochetkov, who earned the win in series-clinching Game 5.
• Andersen posted a .915 SV% and a 2.68 GAA during a six-game series against Washington in 2017, when he was backstopping the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 17 career regular-season appearances against the Caps, Andersen is 10-4-3 with a .912 SV% and a 2.58 GAA, including wins in five of his last six starts for the Canes against their division rival.

On The Other Side...

• 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 have 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.
• Alex Ovechkin (52G-55A–107P in 93 GP) is the leading point scorer against the Hurricanes among active players. Ovechkin’s 107 points in regular season play versus Carolina are the most he has recorded against a single opponent in his career. During Washington’s 2019 First Round series against the Hurricanes, Ovechkin recorded a team-high nine points (4g, 5a) in seven games.
• In Round 1, Dylan Strome nearly doubled up every other Capitals player with nine points in his team's five-game series victory over Montreal. The 2015 third-overall pick found the scoresheet in every game, including three multi-point performances, after producing at a point-per-game pace during the regular season for the first time in his career.

Injury Updates

• Forward Jesper Fast was ruled out for the 2024-25 season in August after having neck surgery.

What Are We Wearing?

• The Canes will wear their white uniforms on the road throughout the postseason.

What's Next After This Game?

• The Canes are scheduled to practice in D.C. on Wednesday before the puck drops for Game 2 on Thursday.
• Next Game: Thursday, May 8 | Round 2, Game 2 at Washington | 7:00 p.m. ET
• Next Home Game: Saturday, May 10 | Round 2, Game 3 vs. Washington | 6:00 p.m. ET | Tickets | Parking