The Washington Capitals took the ice at Capital One Arena for Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night, knowing they needed to respond to a pitiful performance from earlier in the week. The Hurricanes are never going to play a different way than they always do, and the Caps know that, so could they lock the series up at one win apiece?
Connor McMichael opened the scoring, finishing a breakaway into the top shelf to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead in the second period. John Carlson doubled the advantage on a power play early in the third. Shayne Gostisbehere brought the Hurricanes within one with a lucky bounce on a power play. Tom Wilson added an empty netter.
Capitals beat Hurricanes 3-1!
- The first period was mostly the same old song and dance from Game 1, with the Hurricanes playing their usual relentless style. However, after killing a Carolina power play, the Capitals finally showed some life for the first time in the series and put together consecutive good shifts for the first time. No goals in the first frame yet again, but steps toward a better showing from the Caps.
- Tom Wilson tried to lay the boom on Jordan Martinook early in the game, but the latter slid out of the hit, dropping to the ice instead. The ESPN crew commended him for this for some reason, but that’s actually a pretty dangerous play for both players as Martintook came about a foot from getting his head smashed directly into the boards. They definitely don’t teach that one in hockey fundamentals.
- No Charlie Lindgren tonight to back up Logan Thompson. The Capitals ruled him out pregame for personal family reasons. Mitchell Gibson sat on the bench in his place.
- The second period was not only easily the best period of the series for the Capitals but might be one of their best in the whole playoffs to this point. The Caps controlled the play and created seven high-danger chances in and around Frederik Andersen’s net. Unfortunately, they could only put one behind him. Absolutely have to get more than one goal in that sort of period against Carolina.
- Connor McMichael was the one who found the goal, sniping past Andersen on a breakaway. McMichael was sprung by Sean Walker throwing the puck off his defense partner Shayne Gostisbehere’s face. First NHL goal since the new Pope belongs to McJesus.
- Tom Wilson made countless unbelievably clutch defensive plays in this game. The deflection on the pass to Dmitry Orlov and then laying out to block a slot shot seconds later to end the second period was perhaps his best spell. What a leader.
- I thought Nic Dowd led the way from a five-on-five play perspective. He was hard on pucks, drew a penalty, and battled in front of the net. He had a great night on the penalty kill as well.
- The Caps got away from what they were doing well in the third period and just started holding on for dear life. Not ideal, but Tom Wilson had the game of his life, so it didn’t matter.
- The Hurricanes had not given up a power-play goal until John Carlson dented the twine behind Andersen. Just an absurdly beautiful passing play from Dylan Strome and Wilson to set it up. With the goal, Carlson tied Dino Ciccarelli (21) for the seventh-most playoff goals in franchise history.
- Logan Thompson didn’t have as much to do, but he was excellent again. Nothing he could do about the one goal.
