After a stealing Game 1 on the road, the Hurricanes eye a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Capitals as Game 2 looms Thursday night.
Jaccob Slavin buried the game-winner in overtime Monday night, vaulting the Hurricanes to an impressive Game 1 victory. Washington mustered just 14 shots on goal compared to Carolina's 33, with Alex Ovechkin held to just one attempt.
Now Washington is facing a must-win situation and hoping to avoid an 0-2 hole when the series shifts to Raleigh for Games 3 and 4. Already, the Capitals face an uphill climb: Teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven NHL series own an all-time winning percentage of .681.
A lot of the responsibility will rest on Ovechkin, who became the league's all-time leading goal-scorer in April, surpassing Wayne Gretzky.
Here's what you need to know about Thursday's matchup between the Capitals and the Hurricanes, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Capitals vs. Hurricanes on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Fubo
Game 2 of Capitals vs. Hurricanes will air live on ESPN with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Ray Ferraro (analyst) and Emily Kaplan (reporter) on the call.
Fans looking to stream Capitals vs. Hurricanes can watch live on Fubo, which will carry every 2025 NHL playoff game broadcast by the ESPN networks.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 200+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Capitals vs. Hurricanes start time
- Date: Wednesday, May 8
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
Game 2 of the NHL Playoffs series between the Capitals and the Hurricanes is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET from Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
Both teams won their respective first-round series in just five games, with the Capitals eliminating the Canadiens and the Hurricanes handling the Devils.
It's the second playoff matchup between the two teams; back in 2019, Carolina ousted Washington in a first-round series that lasted seven games.
Capitals vs. Hurricanes radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM
Fans can listen to the Capitals vs. Hurricanes broadcast live on SiriusXM.
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Capitals vs. Hurricanes series schedule
Carolina leads series 1-0
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Game 1: Hurricanes 2, Capitals 1 (OT) | — | — |
| May 8 | Game 2 at Washington | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, SN, TVAS |
| May 10 | Game 3 at Carolina | 6 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, TVAS |
| May 12 | Game 4 at Carolina | 7 p.m. | TNT, Sling, SN, TVAS |
| May 15 | Game 5 at Washington* | TBD | TNT, Sling, TVAS |
| May 17 | Game 6 at Carolina* | TBD | TBD, TVAS |
| May 19 | Game 7 at Washington* | TBD | ESPN, Fubo, TVAS |
* If necessary
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2025
Here are the key dates to know for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason. Some series start dates could move up depending on when previous series end.
| Event | Dates |
|---|---|
| First round begins | April 19 |
| NHL Draft Lottery | May 5 |
| NHL Scouting Combine at Buffalo | June 1-7 |
| Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (if necessary) | June 23 |
| NHL Draft at Los Angeles | June 27-28 |