The Carolina Hurricanes couldn’t pull off yet another third-period comeback, falling 3-1 to the Washington Capitals in Game 2 at Capital One Arena on Thursday.
The game looked like it was going to be following the same blueprint as Game 1: the Canes have a strong first period, then the Caps strike first early in the second, but it didn’t end the way that one did.
Instead, the Capitals scored twice before the Hurricanes found their first, and the Canes were then just unable to overcome that deficit with the way Washington was defending (the Caps were credited with 32 blocks once again).
“We certainly weren’t great, that’s for sure,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour. “I think you have to give Washington credit. I mean, they played a much better game. We have to be better, that’s for sure. We knew it was going to be hard. Having said that, we were still right in the game
The biggest issue for Carolina though is that they just haven’t been getting the bounces so far this series (the team hit the frame two more times to put their total up to seven for the series) and Washington’s first goal was another prime example of that.
Sean Walker went to flip a puck into the Capitals end from the neutral zone, but it wound up hitting his partner Shayne Gostisbehere in the throat and the puck fell right to Connor McMichael who got loose for a breakaway.
“Obviously it was unfortunate. Just trying to get the puck in their end and then it hits Shayne [Gostisbehere] in the neck, kinds of stuns him there for a sec and then they get a fast break and score,” Walker said. “It’s part of it. Just move on.”
And you could immediately tell that that goal gave Washington some juice as they started to look much more like themselves through the second period.
“That [first] goal was a tough one just because of the way it happened,” Brind’Amour said. “Nothing going on and then all of a sudden, it’s a breakaway because we banged it off of our own guy. Then that got them going for sure.
The Canes struggled to muster a lot in that middle frame and when they did get their looks, they were either passing up looks, double clutching or shooting off the mark.
But despite the struggles, they were still only down by one heading to the final frame.
That was until Brent Burns turned the puck over in the neutral zone, and wound up taking a hooking penalty less than two minutes into the third.
On that man advantage, Washington’s third crack on the power play in Game 2, the Capitals finally broke Carolina’s perfect penalty kill as John Carlson snuck in from the blueline and slammed home a pretty pass by Tom Wilson.
“I thought our first was good and then the second period was just no good,” said Jordan Staal. “Even the first half of our third was not great. We were playing in our end a little too much and just turning over one too many pucks and not really getting through the neutral zone and getting on them and all the stuff that we do. Took a penalty and obviously the PK would love to have the kill. Obviously our 5v5 game wasn’t great and it kind of trended toward them getting an extra goal.”
The Canes were in a 2-0 hole, but they were finally able to break through on the power play not too long after themselves as Gostisbehere answered back, putting home a rebound from the wing.
GOSTISBEHERE! Shayne Gostisbehere trims the Carolina deficit to 1 midway through the third!#RaiseUp | #StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/bUlldqhny8
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) May 9, 2025
The Hurricanes were back in it, and they definitely pushed hard that period, but the team just couldn’t find that extra gear and second goal.
“When we’re playing our game, I think we really controlled the momentum of the game and had a lot more time in their zone and created a lot more, for sure,.” Walker said. “We’ll look at it tomorrow, but I think we know we got away from our game there a little bit and they capitalized and took away from our momentum. We’ll look at it and move on.”
Wilson, who was far and away the best player on the ice in Game 2 with his physicality, offensive impact and defensive blocks, sealed the game with the empty netter.
Despite the loss, the Canes are in a good position as they now head back to Raleigh with a 1-1 series split and a chance to take a strong lead in the series if they can stay hot at home.
“Always nice to be in front of our fans and we’re going to have to take that momentum back and use our fans to do it,” Staal said. “We’d love to be up two, but it’s a good team and we’re going to have to start fresh at home here and take it to them again.
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