This will be the second game between the Capitals and Hurricanes in less than a week. Carolina won 6-4 at home Saturday night, and they will meet at the same venue Friday. The Hurricanes also knocked off Washington in the first round of the playoffs last season in a seven-game series.

Carolina is getting monster offensive seasons from Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen and Andrei Svechnikov, who have combined for 111 points. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton is putting up career-best numbers from the blue line with 36 points in 39 games. The Hurricanes have gotten good goaltending from Petr Mrazek, who has a 2.74 GAA and .900 save percentage.

Washington is going through its first inconsistent stretch, playing .500 hockey over the last six games. The Caps are without injured key forwards T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson, both listed as day-to-day. After a playoff series defeat last season and another loss to the Canes last weekend, I would anticipate seeing the Capitals’ “A” game here, and I’ll be looking toward betting Washington to snap its recent struggles vs. Carolina.

The play: Capitals, +105.