The Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes split the opening two games at Capital One Arena. Now the series turns to Lenovo Center where the Hurricanes are a tough team to play.
Carolina did not lose a single home game (3-0) in the first round against the New Jersey Devils. Nor did they lose one against the Capitals during the two teams’ 2019 playoff series (3-0). The last time the Caps beat the Hurricanes on the road was on December 17, 2023 in a 2-1 shootout victory.
Charlie Lindgren will return to his backup role as the Caps will go with the same lineup everywhere else. The Canes are flipping Roslovic and Kotkaniemi in their lines but that’s it.
Puck drop for Game 3 is at 6:00 pm on TNT. Let’s go Caps!
Lines
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Tom Wilson stopped on a partial breakaway on his first shift. Skating down the right wing, he shot five hole as he deked to his five hole but Andersen was ready for it.
Andrei Svechnikov beats Logan Thompson with a backhand shot but it his the post.
Brent Burns to the box for tripping Brandon Duhaime at 9:46 of the first period.
Caps power play.
Seth Jarvis stopped by Logan Thompson on a breakaway. He goes forehand-backhand but Thompson makes the save with his glove. Jarvis is frustrated at the Canes bench.
Canes kill it.
Jordan Martinook checks Connor McMichael into the Hurricanes bench.
Alex Ovechkin has a chance in front of the net, but is stopped by Andersen. Ovi is looking up to the heavens.
Ovechkin gets another chance off a set play via a faceoff, but is stopped by Andersen’s pad.
At intermission: Well that was the best period the Capitals have played in this entire series. It’s tied 0-0, though. The Caps lead in shots 9 to 6 and out-attempted the Hurricanes at five-on-five 19 to 18. That’s saying something!
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Brent Burns with a big hit on Alex Ovechkin sending the Capitals captain to the ice.
PLD and Jackson Blake to the box for their role in a scrum at 1:57. PLD caught Blake with a left jab, no-look. Blake did not appreciate it.
Four on four.
Back to full strength.
Logan Thompson makes a great save on a tip in front of the net.
🚨 1-0 Carolina Hurricanes. CAR Goal: Andrei Svechnikov (6). Unassisted. Time: 12:34.
Svechnikov sheds John Carlson after a faceoff in the offensive zone, racing first to the puck and scoring easily near the net. Aho appeared to intentionally lose the faceoff, putting the puck behind Dowd, giving Svechnikov a lane to score.
Alex Alexeyev to the box at 17:24 for hooking Jackson Blake, who was about to have a good chance near the net.
Canes power play.
🚨 2-0 Carolina Hurricanes. CAR PPG: Jack Roslovic (1). Assists: B. Burns (2), T. Hall (3) Time: 18:37.
Thompson with his body slightly off the post gets beat by Roslovic with a snapper from the left circle. The Caps were leading him unguarded, more worried about the Canes players near the net. Bad goal for Thompson to give up.
Jordan Staal to the box for high-sticking Trevor van Riemsdyk at 19:15. Though, it was PLD who high-sticked TVR. Rod Brind-Amour is going balistic at the bench.
Caps power play.
At intermission: The Canes lead 2-0 despite the Capitals playing solid for the first 32 minutes of the game. Carolina now outshooting the Caps 17 to 15 and 43 to 27 at five-on-five shot attempts. Caps were out-attempted 25 to 8 at five-on-five in the second period alone.
Washington will have 1:15 remaining of a power play to start the third.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Canes kill power play.
🚨 3-0 Carolina Hurricanes. CAR Goal: Eric Robinson (1). Assists: L. Stankoven (2), J. Roslovic (2). Time: 03:14.
Carlson gets walked down the left wing and Robinson beats Thompson who’s set up deep in the crease.
Not sure this game is in the cards, you guys. But, I’ll do my best here.
Did you know Frederik Andersen is currently pitching a shutout? Really. A shutout. shutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutoutshutout
Jordan Martinook saves a goal by diving to stop a Connor McMichael one-timer attempt at a yawning net.
Per the telecast, the Capitals don’t have a shot on goal for over 11 minutes.
Canes just had about a two minute shift in the Caps zone. They are playing this one out. No fight.
Nic Dowd gets a double minor for roughing while Andrei Svechnikov gets two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct at 15:50.
Canes power play.
🚨 4-0 Carolina Hurricanes. CAR PPG: Jackson Blake (2). Assists: S. Gostisbehere (4), S. Jarvis (5). Time: 16:44.
A shot goes off the endboards right to Blake at the opposite post and he squeaks it under Thompson’s body.
Hurricanes shut out Capitals 4-0. Yikes.
Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.
