The Washington Capitals are back for Round 2 after a five-day break in game action. Washington will battle their budding rival, the Carolina Hurricanes, for the opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 and the third time in team history (1998).
To get there, the Capitals will need to handle a quick-strike Hurricanes team at five-on-five that is hungry to make a long playoff run and is elite at special teams — both on the power play and penalty kill. Winning this round will not be easy: every major analytics predictive model is picking the Hurricanes in this series.
Frederik Andersen, who is returning from an injury in the first round of the playoffs, will get the start in goal and oppose Logan Thompson in net.
Puck drop for Game 1 is at 7:00 pm on ESPN. Let’s go Caps! Work your magic, Tom Wilson’s lucky egg.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Bob McDonald and Caleb Green sing the national anthem.
Puck is dropped.
Each team starts its fourth line against each other. Martinook-Jarvis-Staal and Orlov-Chatfield vs. Duhaime-Dowd-Protas and Sandin-Roy.
Pierre-Luc Dubois almost connects with Tom Wilson on a rush in the offensive zone.
Martinook nearly deflects a shot home in front from just outside the crease.
Tom Wilson with big hits on Dmitry Orlov and Jalen Chatfield during his first two shifts.
Shot attempts are 11 to 1 Canes early 4:58 into the first period. Carolina has two shots on goal, the Caps still don’t have one yet.
Sebastian Aho high-sticks Alex Alexeyev in his bubble shield while forechecking at 7:02.
Capitals power play.
Alex Ovechkin’s one-timer broke Tom Wilson’s stick in half as he tried to deflect it near the crease. That’s superhero power there.
Canes kill power play.
Shayne Gotisbehere rings one hard off the post after a Canes faceoff win in the offensive zone.
Brandon Duhaime holds Dmitry Orlov, but not in a loving way. Canes to their first power play at 14:51 of the period.
Canes power play.
Capitals kill power play.
The Capital One Arena crowd is roaring in approval after that PK. Very loud.
Matt Roy with a backhanded chance near the net. Yes, Matt Roy jumping into the play.
At intermission: The Hurricanes outshot the Caps 12 to 5 and out-attempted them at all strengths 37 to 14. But the good news is the score remains 0-0.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Dylan Strome with a chance down low.
Connor McMichael races past Brent Burns down the left wing but doesn’t get a shot away as he tries a wraparound.
Pierre-Luc Dubois rings one hard off the crossbar in the slot.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (1). Assists: B. Duhaime (1), J. Carlson (2). Time: 03:53.
Aliaksei Protas scores first career playoff goal in second game back from skate-cut injury
Great work by Brandon Duhaime at the defensive blue line, springing Aliaksei Protas on a two-on-one. He beats Andersen to the far post with a low shot.
Logan Thompson looks really sharp and calm tonight.
Alex Ovechkin with a big hit on Seth Jarvis. Anthony Beauvillier then just misses wide open in front of the net.
ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and rapper Wale among celebrities at Game 1 of Capitals-Hurricanes series
Andrei Svechnikov rings one hard off the crossbar again. That’s the second time in this game. He had five goals in the first round against the Devils tying a team record.
Tom Wilson took a big ol’ dive with 2 seconds remaining trying to draw a penalty on Aho. Tom, bruh, c’mon, that’s penalty worthy.
At intermission: The Capitals lead, somewhat improbably, 1-0. The Hurricanes are outshooting the Capitals 20 to 11 and 65 to 20 in five-on-five shot attempts.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
NOBODY SAY THE S WORD. LOGAN WILL HEAR YOU.
Jackson Blake to the box for tripping John Carlson at 0:27 of the third period.
Caps power play.
Canes kill the power play.
Alex Ovechkin to the box for slashing Jordan Staal at 02:28.
Canes power play.
Gotisbehere rings one off the pipe. That’s their fifth pipe of the night.
Caps kill the power play.
🚨 1-1 tie. CAR Goal: Logan Stankoven (3). Unassisted. Time: 09:42.
Dangerous pass by Protas catches Alexeyev in the skates. Stankoven, wide open in the slot, scores past Thompson’s glove.
Ryan Leonard stopped by Andersen on a breakaway with under six minutes remaining. He went to his backhand but the Canes goaltender makes a huge stop.
Jakob Chychrun to the box with 2:07 remaining for high-sticking off a draw. Uh oh.
Canes power play.
Matt Roy gets away with a board on a Hurricanes player. Like face-first.
Caps kill the penalty.
We’re going to overtime. My poor heart.
At intermission: We’re tied 1-1. The Hurricanes are outshooting the Capitals 31 to 14 and out-attempting them 75 to 24 at five-on-five.
Let us know who you think will score the OTGWG in the comments. Example: Ovechkin/Staal.
Overtime
Puck is dropped.
Aliaksei Protas starting overtime skating with Dylan Strome and Alex Ovechkin on the first line again.
🚨 2-1 Carolina Hurricanes. CAR OTGWG: Jaccob Slavin (2). Assists: J. Martinook (3), D. Orlov (3). Time: 03:06.
Jaccob Slavin sends a sneaky point shot under Thompson’s right pad, giving the Hurricanes a 1-0 series lead.
Carolina wins 2-1 (OT). Carolina outshot the Capitals 33 to 14 and out-attempted them 79 to 25 at five-on-five. At all strengths it was 94 to 34.
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