Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) controls the puck with Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson (50) in pursuit during the third period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Semi-final round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker) AP

With their eyes set on the Stanley Cup final, Washington made quick work of the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and are now tasked with getting past the Carolina Hurricanes

With eight teams eliminated, let's rank the remaining potential matchups — from worst to best — based purely on narratives and vibes.

Goaltender Frederik Andersen has given Canes a comfort level with his play in net that allowed them to be aggressive and take 3-1 series lead.

The Washington Capitals face the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the second-round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The game will be broadcast at 6 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV. If you don’t have cable, here’s how you can watch the game.

The Washington Capitals entered the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs as one of the top teams in the NHL. With a 51-22-9 record, the Capitals finished atop the Eastern