NHL Best Bets for May 15: Capitals Won’t Go Down Without a Fight
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Eric Kelly
- May 15, 2025
Top NHL Pick: Hurricanes-Capitals Under 5.5 (-120) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
There are two NHL games on tonight’s slate, with the Carolina Hurricanes hoping to advance to the next round in their series against Washington with a 3-1 series lead. While the Capitals need a win to save their season, we are leaning towards a low-scoring game.
Our second matchup tonight is also a 3-1 series scenario, as the Dallas Stars visit Winnipeg hoping a win will see them into the next round, but the Jets have been strong at home in recent games.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals
Thursday, May 15, 2025 – 07:00 PM EDT at Capital One Arena
Capitals Won’t Roll Over
The Washington Capitals have gone 1-1 at home against the Carolina Hurricanes in this series, but suffered back-to-back losses on the road to give Carolina a 3-1 series lead heading into this Game Five in Washington.
The Washington Capitals finished top of the Eastern Conference and won’t want to go out in the second round. With that being said, it’s hard to see where they can win three games in a row, as the Carolina Hurricanes have completely outplayed them in this series.
The Hurricanes have shut down the Capitals’ offence by marking Alex Ovechkin out of the game as well as dominating the defense full stop. The Hurricanes have only allowed 1/3/0/2 goals in the opening four games.
With all that being said, the Washington Capitals have fight in them and won’t go down so easily. We are predicting the Hurricanes will win the series, but not tonight.
Carolina & Washington Trends & Facts
- The total has gone under in 6 of Washington’s last 6 games at home.
- The total has gone under in 8 of Washington’s last 12 games against an opponent in the Eastern Conference.
- Washington is 1-4 in its last 5 games against an opponent in the Metropolitan Division.
- Carolina is 11-5 in its last 16 games against Washington.
- The total has gone under in 7 of Carolina’s last 10 games when playing as the favourite.
The Picks
Like we said, we do like the Washington Capitals to pick up a win on home ice tonight through grit and determination, but we wouldn’t advise any more than a half-unit risk because the Carolina Hurricanes have dominated them in this series. It’s hard to ignore the Capitals on home ice as underdogs.
Half Unit Pick: Capitals ML (+130) at BetOnline
Our official pick tonight is the under 5.5 goal line at -110. Having seen how this series has played out so far, it’s hard to see where the goals will come from, especially if the Hurricanes come out as winners. A lot of the trends and stats are leaning to the under, we would bet it down to as low as -125.
NHL Pick: Under 5.5 (-120) at BetOnline
Dallas Stars vs. Winnipeg Jets
Thursday, May 15, 2025 – 09:30 PM EDT at Canada Life Centre
Can Winnipeg Rely on Home Form?
The Jets struggled to get into this round. We suspected they might struggle, and they have done so; with the best goals against record prior to the playoffs, the Jets now have the worst goals against record of all the teams remaining in the playoffs.
The Jets have been strong at home, going 16-4 across their last 20 games. Their only loss in the last 8 games at home was a 3-2 loss to the Stars in game one of the series, but they recorded a 4-0 shutout during game two on home ice. The Stars won both games on home ice to make it 3-1.
Dallas & Winnipeg Trends & Facts
- The total has gone under in 5 of Dallas’ last 5 games when playing on the road against Winnipeg.
- The total has gone under in 11 of Winnipeg’s last 12 games against Dallas.
- Winnipeg is 6-1 in its last 7 games at home.
- Dallas is 4-1 in its last 5 games.
The Pick
We can’t ignore the fact that the Winnipeg Jets are 16-4 in their last 2 home games, and the fact that they are underdogs in this matchup.
Yes, the Stars have won the last two games, but we must remember that we are talking about the team that topped the Western Conference and held the best goals against record in the regular season. Maybe tonight is where Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets turn their season around, betable down to -115 in our opinion.
NHL Pick: Jets ML (+110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
