After never trailing once in its first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, the Washington Capitals were immediately thrust into deep water by Metropolitan Division rival, the Carolina Hurricanes, in Round 2.
The Capitals lost 2-1 in overtime of Game 1, immediately facing a 1-0 deficit in the series. While the final score was close in Game 1, the process wasn’t. The Capitals were out-attempted a whopping 94 to 34 at all strengths. The Hurricanes practically lived in the Capitals’ defensive zone, limiting the normally-verbose Spencer Carbery to a 3-minute press conference with reporters afterward.
Heading into Game 2, Carbery promised better play and “another level.” He also made some lineup changes. Ryan Leonard is being scratched for the first time in favor of Taylor Raddysh. Aliaksei Protas was also returned to the first line. In breaking news before puck drop the Capitals also announced Charlie Lindgren would miss the game due to familly reasons and would be replaced on the bench by Mitch Gibson.
Puck drop for Game 2 is at 7:00 pm on ESPN. Let’s go Caps! Thinking of you, Charlie. 🫶
Lines
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Caleb Green and Bob McDonald sing, if you ask me, a perfect national anthem.
Ovechkin-Strome-Protas and Chychrun-Carlson gets the start against Carolina’s third line, Martinook-Staal-Jarvis, and their second pairing, Orlov-Chatfield.
Puck is dropped.
The Hurricanes are mostly dominating possession again literally exactly like Game 1.
Tom Wilson with a big hit on Jordan Martinook as the Canes forward is falling down to the ice.
Pierre-Luc Dubois to the box for hooking Jordan Staal at 07:11.
Canes power play.
Capitals kill it.
Jordan Staal partially checks Tom Wilson into the Capitals bench.
13:32 into the first period, the Hurricanes are out-attempting the Capitals, 22-5. The Capitals don’t have a scoring chance yet.
Jalen Chatfield to the box for hooking Nic Dowd at 19:23.
Caps power play.
Brent Burns with a huge hit on Jakob Chychrun.
At intermission: It’s tied 0-0. Pretty much a carry-over from Game 1 — though slightly better from the Caps. The Hurricanes outshot Washington 7 to 5 and out-attempted them 26 to 12. The remaining 1:23 of the Capitals’ power play will carry over to the second period.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Connor McMichael (4). Unassisted. Time: 02:16.
Carolina finally makes a mistake and McMichael scores between the circles on a breakaway. What a snipe!
Gotisbehere was injured on the play, taking a clear to the throat/neck area. He’s being looked over on the Canes bench.
The Capitals are finally having some sustained pressure.
Anthony Beauvillier was wide open for a put in at the far post AND HE YOINKS IT WIDE. NOOOOOOO.
The Capitals just reached 10 shots on goal, it took over 30 minutes of game time tonight.
Pierre-Luc Dubois to the penalty box for tripping on Jackson Blake at 11:45. It’s PLD’s second penalty of the night.
Canes power play.
Caps kill it.
McMichael nearly scores again on his next shift. PLD sets him up as he drives the net, but he can’t put it home.
Weird one here. Race for the puck. Mangiapane has Orlov beat, he cuts in front of Orly, interfering him with a counter-hit, and Orlov is in the box for holding after he tackles him after the fact at 15:08. I think that’s a blown call.
Caps power play.
Canes kill it.
Tom Wilson nails Andrei Svechnikov with a huge hit near the side boards toward the end of the second period. Svechnikov spins out of it mostly, but still absorbed a lot of force there.
At intermission: The Capitals are winning and have a shots on goal advantage: 16-11. LFG.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Brent Burns to the box for hooking Brandon Duhaime at 1:32.
Caps power play.
🚨 2-0 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: John Carlson (1). Assists: T. Wilson (4), D. Strome (8). Time: 01:32.
Alex Ovechkin moves to the right point, exchanging with John Carlson and Carolina’s power play gets discombobulated. Wilson hits Carlson wide open in the left circle for a goal. Chychrun laid a big hit on Orlov behind the net to begin the chaos.
Hurricanes with huge pressure in the Capitals zone. They were in there for over 2 minutes, but couldn’t score.
Connor McMichael volleyballs the puck out of play at 8:36. To the box you go, McJesus. Horrible timing for this as the Canes are dominating.
Canes power play.
🚨 2-1 Washington Capitals. CAR PPG: Shayne Gostisbehere (2). Assists: S. Jarvis (4), S. Aho (6). Time: 09:26.
The puck deflects over to Gotisbehere who ends Thompson’s shutout bid. My anxiety didn’t need this.
Thompson makes a huge save on Walker who nearly deflects a point shot by him in the circles.
Four minutes to go…
Caps break up a Canes 3-on-1 break. That was almost bad.
Canes pull Andersen with around 2 minutes remaining.
Time out Carolina with 1:18 remaining.
🚨 3-1 Washington Capitals. WSH ENG: Tom Wilson (3). Assists: A. Protas (1). Time: 19:00.
What a huge empty netter by Tom who has been everything for the Capitals tonight.
Capitals win 3-1. The series is now tied 1-1.
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