Our Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes preview covers the odds, puck line, total, start time, TV channel and where to watch on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The Washington Capitals (3-2-0 this season; 43-30-9 in 2025-26) visit the Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-1 this season; 53-22-7 in 2025-26) at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. Puck drop is 6:45 PM ET (6:45 PM local). TV: CARNHL / HHN / MNMT.
Storyline: Washington enters Tuesday at 3-2-0 after a 5-3 loss to Seattle (Oct. 11). Carolina enters Tuesday at 5-1-1 after a 4-1 win at Philadelphia (Oct. 11). Washington won two of three meetings last season (NHL.com). DraftKings lists Carolina at -162 and Washington at +136 on the moneyline, with the total at 6.5.
Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes Odds, Puck Line & Game Info
| Matchup | Washington Capitals @ Carolina Hurricanes |
|---|---|
| 2026-27 Records | Washington Capitals 3-2-0 | Carolina Hurricanes 5-1-1 |
| 2025-26 Records | Washington Capitals 43-30-9 | Carolina Hurricanes 53-22-7 |
| Head Coaches | WSH: Spencer Carbery (4th season) | CAR: Rod Brind’Amour (9th season) |
| Puck Line | WSH +1.5 (-192) | CAR -1.5 (+160) |
| Moneyline | Washington Capitals: +136 | Carolina Hurricanes: -162 |
| Total | O/U 6.5 (o+105 / u-125) |
| Venue | Lenovo Center (Raleigh, N.C.) |
| Date / Time | Tuesday, October 13, 2026 — 6:45 PM ET |
| TV / How to Watch | CARNHL / HHN / MNMT |
| Probable Starting Goalies | WSH: Logan Thompson (probable, per ESPN; not confirmed) | CAR: Brandon Bussi (probable, per ESPN; not confirmed) |
Odds via DraftKings (through ESPN), cross-checked on Action Network, as of Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, ~10:55 PM ET. Other books listed the same total at research time. Lines move, so check your sportsbook before puck drop. ESPN lists Logan Thompson (Washington) and Brandon Bussi (Carolina) as probable starters, not yet confirmed at research time.
Washington Capitals Preview: Wilson Leads a 3-2-0 Start
2025-26 recap: Washington went 43-30-9 (95 points), finished fourth in the Metropolitan Division and missed the playoffs a year after finishing first in the Eastern Conference. Alex Ovechkin led the team with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists), Tom Wilson had 30 goals and 62 points, and Jakob Chychrun scored 26 goals from the blue line (NHL.com).
Offseason moves: The Capitals acquired Alex Tuch (33 goals, 66 points) from Buffalo after he signed an eight-year, $84 million contract, and Jordan Kyrou (46 points) from St. Louis for forward Connor McMichael, prospect Milton Gastrin and the No. 16 selection in the 2026 draft. They signed former Columbus captain Boone Jenner (four years, $23 million) and defenseman Vincent Desharnais (NHL.com).
Key players & coach: Ovechkin, the NHL record holder with 929 career goals, is in his 22nd season. Wilson, Dylan Strome, Aliaksei Protas and Ryan Leonard join Tuch, Kyrou and Jenner up front. Chychrun, Martin Fehervary and rookie Cole Hutson lead the defense. Spencer Carbery is in his fourth season as coach.
Goalies: Logan Thompson has started four games and is 3-1-0 with a .902 save percentage (101 saves on 112 shots). Most recently, he made 22 saves on 27 shots in a 5-3 loss to Seattle (Oct. 11). Charlie Lindgren has started one game and is 0-1-0 with a .931 save percentage (27 saves on 29 shots). That start was a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay (Oct. 3). ESPN lists Logan Thompson as the probable starter for Tuesday (not confirmed at research time).
Season so far: Washington is 3-2-0 through five games, with 17 goals scored and 14 allowed. Results: a 5-2 win at Carolina (Oct. 2), a 3-1 loss at Tampa Bay (Oct. 3), a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh (Oct. 7), a 3-1 win over the Rangers (Oct. 9) and a 5-3 loss to Seattle (Oct. 11). Tom Wilson has five points (two goals, three assists), and Ryan Leonard has four points (two goals, two assists) (NHL.com).
Injuries: Pierre-Luc Dubois (illness) is listed as out; Rasmus Sandin (knee surgery) and Matt Roy (lower body) are on injured reserve; Patrick Thomas (upper body) is on the injured non-roster list (ESPN).
Carolina Hurricanes Preview: Aho Leads a 5-1-1 Start
2025-26 recap: Carolina went 53-22-7 (113 points), won the Metropolitan Division, finished first in the Eastern Conference and won the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes swept Ottawa and Philadelphia, beat Montreal in five games in the conference final and beat Vegas in six games in the Final (NHL.com). Aho led the team with 80 points, Nikolaj Ehlers had 71, Andrei Svechnikov had 31 goals and 70 points, and Seth Jarvis scored a team-high 32 goals.
Offseason moves: Carolina brought back nearly all of its championship roster. Goalie Frederik Andersen now plays for Edmonton.
Key players & coach: Aho, Svechnikov, Ehlers, Jackson Blake, Logan Stankoven, Hall, Jordan Staal, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Eric Robinson and Mark Jankowski lead the forwards. Jaccob Slavin, Shayne Gostisbehere, K’Andre Miller, Sean Walker and Jalen Chatfield are on defense. Rod Brind’Amour is in his ninth season as coach.
Goalies: Brandon Bussi has started four games and is 2-1-1 with an .871 save percentage (81 saves on 93 shots). Most recently, he made 24 saves on 26 shots in a 5-2 win at Chicago (Oct. 10). Pyotr Kochetkov has started three games and is 3-0-0 with a .912 save percentage (52 saves on 57 shots). Most recently, he made 18 saves on 19 shots in a 4-1 win at Philadelphia (Oct. 11). ESPN lists Brandon Bussi as the probable starter for Tuesday (not confirmed at research time).
Season so far: Carolina is 5-1-1 through seven games, with 27 goals scored and 17 allowed. Results: a 1-0 overtime loss to Florida (Sept. 29), a 5-2 loss to Washington (Oct. 2), a 3-2 overtime win at Philadelphia (Oct. 3), a 6-4 win at Montreal (Oct. 6), a 7-2 win over Vancouver (Oct. 8), a 5-2 win at Chicago (Oct. 10) and a 4-1 win at Philadelphia (Oct. 11). Sebastian Aho has 11 points (six goals, five assists), and Andrei Svechnikov has eight points (four goals, four assists) (NHL.com).
Injuries: Alexander Nikishin (contract dispute) is listed as out; Jordan Staal (lower body) is day to day; Seth Jarvis (shoulder surgery) is on the injured non-roster list (ESPN).
Key Matchup Notes: Capitals vs Hurricanes
- Schedule spot: Washington last played on Oct. 11 and hosts Montreal on Oct. 14. Carolina last played on Oct. 11 and visits Winnipeg on Oct. 17.
- Last season: Washington won two of three meetings last season. Washington won 4-1 in Carolina on Nov. 11, 2025 and 4-3 in overtime at home on Jan. 31, 2026. Carolina won 3-2 in a shootout in Washington on Dec. 11, 2025 (NHL.com).
- Special teams: Washington is converting 15.4 percent of its power plays and has killed 88.2 percent of penalties. Carolina is converting 23.3 percent of its power plays and has killed 92.9 percent of penalties (NHL.com).
- Scoring: Washington has scored 17 goals and allowed 14 in 5 games. Carolina has scored 27 goals and allowed 17 in 7 games.
- Odds snapshot: Carolina -162 / Washington +136 on the moneyline, Hurricanes -1.5 (+160) on the puck line, total 6.5 (DraftKings).
How to Watch Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Puck drop: 6:45 PM ET (6:45 PM local)
Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, N.C.
TV: In the U.S., CARNHL and HHN carry it in the Hurricanes’ market and Monumental Sports Network (MNMT) carries it in the Capitals’ market (NHL.com). ESPN also lists ESPN+ streaming. No U.S. national TV broadcast is listed at research time.
Check the puck line, moneyline and total above against your sportsbook before the October 13, 2026 puck drop, and look for confirmed starting goalies closer to game time.