Schedule / Matchup Preview

Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview vs Hurricanes · THU · JAN 14 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
THU · JAN 14 · 6:00 PM CT
Capital One Arena
MNMT · CARNHL · HHN
Washington Capitals
Capitals
1–1–0
VS
Carolina Hurricanes
Hurricanes
1–1–1
Upcoming
THU · JAN 14 · 6:00 PM CT
MNMT · CARNHL · HHN
Washington Capitals
Home · Capitals
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Nikolaj Ehlers has solved Logan Thompson before, 4 goals on 34 shots. But Jakob Chychrun has quietly owned this matchup, 5 points in the last 4 meetings.
Capital One Arena
Carolina Hurricanes
Away · Hurricanes
1–1–1
3 PTS
Capitals
GOALIES
Hurricanes
Logan Thompson
Logan Thompson
Expected
.939 SV% · 2.00 GAA · 1W
.923 SV% L5 · Locked in
VS
Brandon Bussi
Brandon Bussi
Expected
.872 SV% · 2.88 GAA · 0W
.881 SV% L5 · Cooling
Capitals
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Hurricanes
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L1
William Carrier · Sebastian Aho · Andrei Svechnikov
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L2
Taylor Hall · Logan Stankoven · Jackson Blake
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L3
Nikolaj Ehlers · Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
L4
Jesperi Kotkaniemi · Mark Jankowski · Eric Robinson
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D1
Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D2
K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
D3
Shayne Gostisbehere · Mike Reilly
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP1
Andrei Svechnikov · Sebastian Aho · Jackson Blake · Nikolaj Ehlers · Shayne Gostisbehere
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PP2
Taylor Hall · Jordan Staal · Logan Stankoven · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK1
Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook · Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PK2
Sebastian Aho · Eric Robinson · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
CapitalsProjected lines
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
HurricanesProjected lines
L1
William Carrier · Sebastian Aho · Andrei Svechnikov
L2
Taylor Hall · Logan Stankoven · Jackson Blake
L3
Nikolaj Ehlers · Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook
L4
Jesperi Kotkaniemi · Mark Jankowski · Eric Robinson
D1
Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
D2
K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
D3
Shayne Gostisbehere · Mike Reilly
PP1
Andrei Svechnikov · Sebastian Aho · Jackson Blake · Nikolaj Ehlers · Shayne Gostisbehere
PP2
Taylor Hall · Jordan Staal · Logan Stankoven · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
PK1
Jordan Staal · Jordan Martinook · Jaccob Slavin · Jalen Chatfield
PK2
Sebastian Aho · Eric Robinson · K'Andre Miller · Sean Walker
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:15 AM CT
Capitals
INJURY REPORT
Hurricanes
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Seth Jarvis
IR · Shoulder (surgery) · Expected back Oct 24
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Alexander Nikishin
OUT · Contract dispute · Expected back Oct 10
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
CapitalsInjury report
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
HurricanesInjury report
Seth Jarvis
IR · Shoulder (surgery) · Expected back Oct 24
Alexander Nikishin
OUT · Contract dispute · Expected back Oct 10
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:15 AM CT
STORYLINE
The Capitals lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Hurricanes won their last game and are 1-1-1 in their first 3 games.

Matchup Intel

Nikolaj Ehlers has solved Logan Thompson before, 4 goals on 34 shots. But Jakob Chychrun has quietly owned this matchup, 5 points in the last 4 meetings.

It's the second meeting of the season; the Capitals took the first 5-2 on Oct 2. The Capitals have found Brandon Bussi beatable: .865 on 52 shots.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Nikolaj Ehlers has 4 goals on Logan Thompson (34 shots).
(Carolina)
4 goals on Logan Thompson
Player
Jakob Chychrun has 5 points in his last 4 games against Carolina. See the games →
(Washington)
5 pts, last 4 vs CAR
Goaltending
Brandon Bussi has struggled against Washington — a .865 save % on 52 shots.
.865 SV% vs WSH
Matchup
Jordan Martinook has 12 shots on Logan Thompson without a goal.
(Carolina)
0/12 vs Logan Thompson
Series
Second meeting of the season — Washington took the first 5-2 on Oct 2. See the games →
1-0 series, WSH