The Carolina Hurricanes are gearing up to clash with the Washington Capitals for the first time since their memorable second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series last year, where the Hurricanes triumphed in five games, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Final.
The reigning Metropolitan Division champions, the Capitals, have encountered a rocky start in the 2025-26 season, currently sitting at 7-7-1. This record places them in a tightly contested seventh place in the Metropolitan Division, tied for last with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fortunately for Washington, they are not in dire straits, as many teams in the Eastern Conference find themselves within a narrow range of 14 to 19 points.
Leading the Capitals is Tom Wilson, who has tallied 9 goals and 16 points, with Dylan Strome contributing significantly with 10 assists. Defensemen John Carlson and Jakob Chychrun have also made an impact, each exceeding the 10-point mark early in the season. In goal, Logan Thompson has been impressive, holding a record of 6-4-0 with a stellar .930 save percentage and a goals-against average of 1.61. With performances like these, he is well-positioned to secure more wins.
On the other hand, the Hurricanes have shown resilience despite facing significant injury challenges. In recent news, the team announced that Charles-Alexis Legault will need three to four months to recover from hand surgery, adding to their injury list. However, there is a silver lining as Shayne Gostisbehere is set to return to the lineup, taking Legault’s place and likely stepping back into the quarterback role for the team’s top power play unit.
Nikolaj Ehlers, a key addition in the offseason, is hitting his stride, entering the matchup with 9 points over his last 10 games. According to reports from North State Journal’s Cory Lavalette, Frederik Andersen participated in the morning skate, hinting that he may return as the starting goalie after Pyotr Kochetkov and Brandon Bussi played the previous two contests.
Fans can catch the action as the game is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC, broadcasted on the FanDuel Sports Network and available for streaming on the FanDuel Sports App and ESPN+ for out-of-market viewers. Additionally, local radio coverage will be provided by 99.9 The Fan and its affiliates. This matchup promises to be a thrilling showdown as both teams look to assert themselves in the early season standings.