WASHINGTON, DC -- When the top dog has their back against the wall, you want to watch and see how they respond. The Washington Capitals are that top dog, and they look to bounce back in Game 2 versus the Carolina Hurricanes today – May 8 – at 7 p.m. Eastern. The game will air on ESPN. Fans who have parted ways with their local cable provider can catch the action by utilizing streaming alternatives like Fubo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), and Sling (promotional offers). How do I watch Capitals vs. Hurricanes for free? You can watch these Central division rivals battle it out for free by utilizing a free trial from Fubo or DirecTV Stream. What happened in Game 1 It wasn’t easy skating, so to speak, but thing were seemingly going Washington’s way early in Game 1. Through the first two periods, they battled Carolina’s defense and finally took a 1-0 lead during the second period, thanks to Aliaksei Protas’s first goal of the postseason. Washington further kept Carolina on their toes through the third period, before Carolina’s Logan Stankoven tied it at 1-1 at the 9:42 mark of the third period. Neither team could end it during regulation, which prompting OT. At the 3:06 mark, Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin scored the game-winning goal, giving the Hurricanes a 2-1 overtime win and a 1-0 series lead. It was stunning for Carolina to keep a Capitals team that ranked second in the NHL regular season in goals per game (3.49) to one goal the entire contest. It said a lot about the way Carolina can keep things rolling, and aren’t slouches themselves. Carolina Hurricanes overview And if Carolina can win Game 2, they have Washington right where they want them. It’s taken some effort from everyone possible, especially right winger Andrei Svechnikov, who leads the team in goals (five) so far in the postseason. Center Sebastian Aho has done a good job facilitating, leading them in assists (five) and total points (eight). Carolina’s recent playoff history The last time Carolina got past the second round and advanced to the conference finals was 2023. Only losing three games through the first two rounds during their run, Carolina ended up getting swept by the Florida Panthers. The Hurricanes have twice won the conference championship, in 2002 and 2006, and in the latter, they beat the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to win it all. Since 2006, the Hurricanes have advanced to the conference finals three times – 2009, 2019 and 2023 – but have been swept each time. It’s up to them to change that, if they can handle business in the second round. Washington Capitals overview As for Washington, they were the NHL’s best team in the regular season, having won their first division title since 2020, and a favorite to win the Stanley Cup. However, that’s the regular season. The playoffs are a different animal, and this Game 1 loss should be a wake-up call. Capitals left winger and future Hall of Famer Alex Ovechkin leads the team in goals (four), but didn’t score in Game 1 of this round, and will have to change that going forward in the series. Center Dylan Strome has had his hands in every part of the game, leading the team in assists (seven) and goals (nine). Protas scored his first goal of the postseason in Game 1, and if he continues to produce, he can be a bigger contributor. There’s not much more to write beyond what’s already been said of Ovechkin, who’s been putting in work and setting records the entire season. Ovechkin became the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer in April, after he surpassed hockey legend Wayne Gretzy’s record of 894. He finished the regular season with 897 goals. Washington’s recent playoff history This season marked Washington’s sixth-ever season with 50 or more wins. It’s not a stretch to say they can make the Stanley Cup finals. In their franchise history, Washington has twice advanced to the finals, winning the conference championship in 1998 and 2018. They won it all in 2018 in a dominating 4-1 series win over the Vegas Golden Knights. But if they want to repeat history, they need to get past a Carolina team that’s leading the NHL postseason in fewest goals per game (2.00). Who is announcing Capitals vs. Hurricanes? Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Ray Ferraro (analyst) will be the announcers while Emily Kaplan reports rinkside. What are the latest odds for Hurricanes vs. Capitals? Moneyline: CAR: (-175), WAS: (+145) Puck spread: CAR: -1.5, WAS: +1.5 Over/Under: 5.5 Here’s more information on how to watch today’s Hurricanes vs. Capitals game on TV and streaming services:. What: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals: Game 2, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs semifinals When: Thursday, May 8, 2025 Time: 7 p.m. Eastern Where: Capital One Arena | Washington, DC Channel: ESPN Best Streaming Options: Fubo (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial), Sling (promotional offers) Channel finder if you have cable: You can access the channel by using the channel finders online: Verizon Fios, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.