NHL Game Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals with Line Combinations 12/20/2024

Martin Necas #88 skating for the Carolina Hurricanes
Photo via NHL.com

Carolina Hurricanes (20-10-1, 41 pts) at Washington Capitals (21-8-2, 44 pts)
Venue: Capital One Arena
Date: Friday, December 20
Time: 7:00 pm EST

TV: ESPN + / FDSS / MNMT
Radio:
Carolina Hurricanes – The Fan 99.9 FM
Washington Capitals – WJFK 106.7 FM / WFED 1500 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Carolina Hurricanes -1.5 ML -130
Washington Capitals +1.5 ML +120
O/U 5.5

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Carolina Hurricanes News & Notes:

The Hurricanes have won two in a row since being shut out 3-0 by the Ottawa Senators. Carolina sits third in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind second-place Washington. The Canes have a 9-2-1 record within the division as they gear up for a huge matchup of two of the top teams in the league. The Hurricanes won the first battle between these two clubs 4-2 on November 3.

Washington Capitals News & Notes:

Washington has lost two straight after winning four in a row and will try to end their losing streak tonight. The Capitals are 9-4-2 at home this season but are 2-2-1 in their last five home games. Washington is 8-4-0 against the Metropolitan Division and is a sparkling 20-1-1 when they score three or more goals. Alex Ovechkin looks like he will return to the lineup on Monday against the Bruins in Boston.

Carolina Hurricanes Projected Lines:

Robinson-Aho-Jarvis
Svechnikov-Kotkaniemi-Necas
Carrier-Staal-Martinook
Blake-Jost-Roslovic

Slavin-Burns
Orlov-Chatfield
Gostisbehere-Walker

Kochetkov
Tokarski

Get Carolina Hockey Merchandise Here

Washington Capitals Projected Lines:

Mangiapane-Strome-Wilson
McMichael-Dubois-Protas
Vrana-Eller-Raddysh
Duhaime-Dowd-Miroshnichenko

Sandin-Carlson
Fehervary-Roy
Chychrun-van Riemsdyk

Lindgren
Thompson

Get Washington Hockey Merchandise Here

Players To Watch:

Carolina Hurricanes

Winger Martin Necas is getting most of the headlines in Carolina and rightly so, as the 25-year-old is having a spectacular season, but Sebastian Aho has been the steady driving force of the Carolina offense for almost a decade. Aho is second on the Canes in scoring behind only Necas with 33 points (9g, 24a) in 31 games. The 27-year-old Fin is on pace for another 80+ point season, which would be the fourth of his career. Against the Capitals a year ago Aho had five goals and three assists in four games.

Washington Capitals

2019 first-round pick Connor McMichael is in the midst of a breakout season, the 23-year-old Ajax, Ontario native has 15 goals and 12 assists through 31 games and is on pace for a 71-point season which would shatter his career high of 33 points set a season ago. McMichael is second on the Caps in scoring, trailing only Dylan Strome and is tied with Alex Ovechkin for the team lead in goals.

Injury Report:

Carolina Hurricanes

G Frederik Anderson – OUT
C Jack Drury – IR
D Joakim Ryan – IR
D Riley Stillman – IR (Non-Roster)
RW Jesper Fast – LTIR

Washington Capitals

LW Alex Ovechkin – IR
LW Sonny Milano – IR
RW TJ Oshie – LTIR
C Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR

Next Game:

Carolina Hurricanes – December 22 at New York Rangers
Washington Capitals – December 22 vs. Los Angeles Kings

Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- A Major Announcement- Mitch Marner Rumors?- End of Season Award Predictions- Are the Kids Alright?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement
  2. Season 4. Episode 27. Losing, It's Called Bruins.
  3. Season 4. Episode 26. Is Swayman a Diva?
  4. Season 4. Episode 25. It's Not a Retool
  5. Season 4. Episode 24. Franchise Altering Deadline


Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

NHL Playoff Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars with Line Combinations 4/19/2025

NHL Playoff Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars with Line Combinations 4/19/2025

NHL Playoff Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars with Line Combinations 4/19/2025

Read More
Pittsburgh Penguins

Rust’s Double Downs Capitals In Pens’ Season Finale

The conclusive blare of the final horn resonated through PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night, bringing the curtain down on a season of unfulfilled promise for the playoff-less Penguins, who nonetheless delivered a parting shot by defeating their rivals, the Washington Capitals, 5-2. While this victory offered a momentary high for the Penguins, its true […]

Read More

2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Winnipeg Jets vs St. Louis Blues Series Preview

One more sleep and the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues battle it out for the first time since 2019 in the postseason. Both teams have a close head-to-head rivalry since the 1999-2000 season, but have only met once in the playoffs. A throwback to the clash in 2019 has shades of the past after […]

Read More