In Game One, it took the Canes until midway thru the third period before they could forge a breakthrough and finally get on the scoreboard via Logan Stankoven, with Jaccob Slavin then winning the game in overtime. Yet, it was not a precise Carolina attack, mostly spraying pucks toward the Washington net and causing a scramble while hoping for the best. Despite the puck control, it resulted in a lack of quality efforts, and why the Caps hung around into OT. Still, as Freddy Andersen looks sharp enough in the Canes goal and Logan Thompson did all he could for the Caps in Game One, we won't be surprised to see another lower-scoring game tonight in D.C. Play Canes-Caps Under.

The Canes present a hurdle for the Caps as Carolina is adept at funneling shots toward the net and creating chaos in front of the goal. In Game One, the Canes spent much of the night in the O-zone and ended up with a whooping 94-34 edge in all-situations shot attempts. Washington simply isn't going to be able to get away with the same mistakes it made vs. Montreal. Shot quality, however, was lacking from Carolina, spraying the puck toward Logan Thompson and hoping for the best. Spencer Carbery likely has gone back to the drawing board and expect Washington to spend more time on attack, and still the goalie edge for the Caps with Thompson. Play Caps on the Money Line.

I took a road team on Wednesday I think for the first time this NHL postseason and paid the price on Florida. Went against my gut, which was Leafs +1. Because in playoff games, I usually like that goal in the pocket to know OT won't gut me -- especially on a home team. Ah well. I'm thrilled personally Toronto won. I do believe Carolina is the better team in this series, RS standings regardless. But we are gonna take the East's top team at home getting +1 in the Caps as we did Game 1 (push unless you played regulation, which is smart). Can't go down 2-0 or it's basically over heading to Raleigh.