The Washington Capitals lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 in Game 3. They now trail in the second-round series two games to one and will need to beat the Hurricanes in Game 4 to avoid a difficult task: winning three straight elimination games to advance.
Since you turn to RMNB for news, information, and dumb stuff — lots of dumb stuff — I’m going to put my great hockey analyst hat on (it’s actually a fedora) and will point out all the things that were bad.
The Caps were shut out 4-0.
You have to score at least one goal to win a game, my favorite team. I mean, duh.
John Carlson
Carlson was on the ice for all four of the Hurricanes’ goals in Game 3, finishing with an abysmal game score — worst on the team.
Carlson’s biggest gaffe came on the Hurricanes’ third goal of the night, which ended any real possible comeback attempt. Eric Robinson wheeled around Carlson down the left wing before beating Logan Thompson to put the Hurricanes up 3-0 with 16:46 remaining in the game.
He also got beat on what appeared to be a set play off a faceoff. After Sebastian Aho pushed the puck forward, Andrei Svechnikov raced past Carlson. Rasmus Sandin, the safety valve on the play, went the wrong direction, giving Svechnikov all the time and space needed to score up close.
Carlson was on the ice for 14 Carolina scoring chances at 5v5, tied with his D-partner, Jakob Chychrun, for worst on the team. Carlson’s on-ice, five-on-five differentials were not great: -13 shot attempts, -10 scoring chances, -1 high-danger chance.
Burn the tape!
Logan Thompson
Thompson has arguably been the Capitals’ MVP so far in the 2025 playoffs, but on Saturday, he didn’t look like himself. He only stopped 24 of 28 shots and allowed 1.42 more goals than expected per MoneyPuck.
Jack Roslovic’s power-play goal late in the second period is likely a shot he will replay in his mind until Game 4. The Canes center beat him with a shot from deep in the left circle, catching him leaning away from the post.
On the other side of the ice, Frederik Andersen stopped all 21 shots he faced and saved 2.6 more goals than expected.
The shutout was Andersen’s first playoff shutout as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. He’s now 5-2 in the 2025 postseason with a 1.32 goals against average and a .940 save percentage.
Nic Dowd nearly scored on his own net from 200 feet away
The Washington Capitals had several great chances to score in the first period, but couldn’t convert. Things started feeling amiss when Nic Dowd almost pulled A Hagelin.
With Logan Thompson pulled for an extra attacker during a delayed penalty call, Dowd attempted a centering pass to Alex Ovechkin in the high slot. The decision-making was sound. However, the execution was not. Dowd’s pass was off target — by a mile — and almost went into the Capitals’ yawning net 200 feet away.
If this had gone in, I may have taken a baseball bat to my TV. And then probably jumped on the broken shards that fell to the floor.
This dry spell in the second period
After a scoreless first period, which saw the Capitals outshoot and out-attempt the Hurricanes at five-on-five, the Capitals’ offense disappeared in the second period. As pointed out by NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, the Hurricanes scored twice, had nine shots on goal, and 28 shot attempts during a span of 11:45 in the second period from 7:12 to 18:57. The Capitals had two shot attempts and one shot on goal.
Another dry spell in the third period
The Capitals went over 8 minutes without a shot from 11:40 left in the third to 3:04 left in the game. They, as the saying goes in the opposite direction, went quietly into that dark night.
Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael combined for a total 0 shot attempts at all strengths
The two young star forwards have been game-changers this season for the Capitals and have provided secondary scoring regularly. Tonight, they didn’t generate literally anything. Protas received 18:49 of ice time, and McMichael saw the ice 17:58 — second and third-most among all Capitals forwards. That’s not going to get it done.
The Capitals’ 4th line
When I think dependable, I think the Capitals’ fourth line. They start in the defensive zone, they somehow have positive five-on-five numbers, and they usually shut down some of the opposing team’s best players.
Not tonight. The Caps’ fourth line was on the ice for both of the Hurricanes’ five-on-five goals against, -10 in five-on-five shot attempts, and -6 in five-on-five scoring chances. Brandon Duhaime, who also penalty kills, was on the ice for both of the Hurricanes’ power-play goals as well, so he joined Carlson as the only Caps players on the ice for every light that the Hurricanes lit. Anthony Beauvillier was the only Capitals forward to get under 10 minutes of five-on-five ice time (9:58). With him on the ice, the Capitals were out-attempted 16 to 7 at five-on-five.
The Caps are now 0-4 against the Hurricanes on the road in the playoffs, which is bad
The Washington Capitals have never beaten the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in the playoffs, losing all four games. They’ve been out-scored 16-3 all time in the building during the postseason. If they can’t find an answer in Game 4 on Monday, they will return home to Capital One Arena facing a 3-1 hole.
In short, the Capitals need to find answers: immediately. Or this magical season will be on the rocks… with no ice. [does falsetto voice] uhhhh AHHHHHH.
