Hurricanes and Capitals Face Off in Key Eastern Conference Matchup

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals will meet on January 31st at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The Hurricanes currently sit second in the Eastern Conference standings with 71 points, while the Capitals are in 11th place with 59 points. This matchup between the division rivals will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a 5 p.m. ET start time.

Why it matters

This game is an important one in the Eastern Conference playoff race, as the Hurricanes look to solidify their position near the top of the standings while the Capitals try to climb back into the postseason picture. The outcome could have significant implications for both teams' playoff positioning down the stretch.

The details

The Hurricanes will be without several key players for this game, including Charles-Alexis Legault (hand injury), Eric Robinson (upper body), and Pyotr Kochetkov (out for the season with an undisclosed injury). The Capitals will also be missing some important contributors, with Pierre-Luc Dubois (abdomen), Logan Thompson (upper body), and Matt Roy (lower body) all listed as out or day-to-day.

• The game will take place on January 31, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET.

What’s next

The outcome of this game could have significant implications for both teams' playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference as the season winds down.