The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet for Game 5 of their second-round NHL playoff series on May 15, 2025, at Capital One Arena, with Carolina holding a commanding 3-1 series lead and a chance to eliminate Washington on their home ice. The Hurricanes have used a combination of relentless forechecking, superior puck possession, and stifling defense to control the pace of the series, routinely forcing the Capitals into low-percentage shots and limiting their time in the offensive zone. Carolina’s system, designed and executed under Rod Brind’Amour, has effectively neutralized Washington’s attack by maintaining puck pressure in all three zones and frustrating their top playmakers into turnovers or dump-and-chase tactics that rarely succeed against Carolina’s fast, structured defensive corps. Frederik Andersen has played a critical role in this success, delivering timely saves and exuding calmness between the pipes, giving his teammates confidence to push forward offensively. The Hurricanes’ scoring has been balanced and opportunistic, with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov leading the way, but the depth of their forward group has been just as important, as players like Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Nečas have consistently generated scoring chances and helped sustain offensive zone pressure.

Meanwhile, the Capitals find themselves on the brink of elimination after a series where their offense has been largely bottled up, and while Logan Thompson has provided admirable goaltending, making numerous high-danger saves to keep games competitive, the lack of sustained offensive pressure has left him vulnerable to rebound goals and defensive breakdowns. Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome have been unable to consistently penetrate Carolina’s defense or convert power-play chances, and Washington has struggled to transition cleanly out of their zone, often losing neutral zone battles that have led to immediate counterattacks. The Capitals’ best hope in Game 5 lies in their ability to reestablish control through early physicality and smarter puck management, especially on the power play, which has been ineffective against Carolina’s aggressive penalty kill. While both teams have struggled against the spread in recent games—Carolina is 4–9 ATS in its last 13 and Washington 3–7 in its last 10—the Capitals have been strong at home overall, winning 8 of their last 10 at Capital One Arena, a stat that could offer a glimmer of optimism for a possible comeback spark. Still, Carolina’s consistency and system discipline have been the story of the series, and unless the Capitals can significantly elevate their offensive game, limit turnovers, and capitalize on special teams, the Hurricanes are well-positioned to end the series and advance. Game 5 will ultimately come down to execution, with Carolina looking to close out a hard-fought series with the same clinical, suffocating approach that’s gotten them this far, while Washington must find urgency and cohesion to force a Game 6 and keep their season alive in front of a home crowd that knows the stakes couldn’t be higher.