Washington, DC — With their playoff hopes on the line after a lackluster opening performance, the Washington Capitals delivered a much-needed response in Game 2 of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals came out with renewed energy and execution on Tuesday night, skating to a 3-1 win and evening the series.
Tom Wilson led the way with a standout performance, contributing across the board. He blocked two shots, assisted on the go-ahead goal, and added an empty-netter to seal the victory. The rest of the team followed suit, shaking off their Game 1 struggles and proving they could keep pace with the high-flying Hurricanes.
“We were much better tonight, no doubt,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said after the win. “We showed we’re capable of pushing back.”
Connor McMichael opened the scoring on a breakaway, capitalizing on a deflection off Carolina defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. John Carlson added a power-play goal, set up perfectly by a cross-ice feed from Wilson. Goaltender Logan Thompson was solid once again, stopping 27 of 28 shots to maintain Washington’s lead throughout the game.
After being thoroughly dominated in the series opener — a disappointing overtime loss — the Capitals flipped the script, setting the pace and minimizing Carolina’s offensive pressure.
“We weren’t happy with how we played in the first game,” McMichael said. “Tonight, we kept things simple, moved the puck quickly, and forced them to play our game instead of chasing the perfect setup.”
Thompson’s steady presence in net was a key factor. The crowd roared with chants of “LT! LT!” after each of his big saves. His consistency, which carried the team through a first-round victory over Montreal, continued to shine.
“He gave us confidence all night,” said captain Alex Ovechkin. “He held us in there when we needed him.”
Carolina’s only goal came on the power play from Gostisbehere midway through the third period. Goalie Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for the Hurricanes, who saw their perfect penalty-kill record this postseason snapped by Carlson’s goal.
“They were the better team tonight, plain and simple,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour admitted. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy. Credit to Washington — they elevated their game. Now we have to regroup.”
Looking Ahead:
The series shifts to Raleigh for Game 3, set for 6 p.m. EDT on Saturday. Carolina will look to defend home ice, where they went 3-0 against New Jersey in the first round and won 31 games during the regular season.
