The Carolina Hurricanes came into Thursday night riding high. Just two nights removed from a dramatic comeback win over Utah, the buzz around this team was real. The question was whether they could bottle that momentum and bring it against a Capitals squad scrapping for every point in a tight playoff race.
For a while, it looked like they could.
Carolina jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, doing just about everything right-capitalizing on chances, winning puck battles, and leaning on Frederik Andersen when they needed him most. But then the wheels came off.
Defensive lapses, missed clears, and penalties piled up, and the Capitals seized every opportunity. Four unanswered goals later, including the overtime winner, and the Hurricanes were left with a frustrating 4-3 loss-and just one point to show for it.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour didn’t mince words postgame.
“From the opening puck drop to the end, I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a 60-minute game where we were that bad. They dominated us from start to finish.”
That’s a strong statement, especially considering the Canes were up 3-0 at one point. But Brind’Amour’s frustration wasn’t just about the final score-it was about how his team played with the lead, or rather, how they didn’t.
Strong Start, Then a Sudden Stall
The game didn’t begin perfectly-Taylor Hall took a penalty just 2:30 in-but Carolina’s penalty kill held strong, allowing only one shot. It took a bit for the Hurricanes to find their footing, but once they did, they looked dangerous.
At 13:27 of the first, Mark Jankowski opened the scoring thanks to some gritty work along the boards. William Carrier absorbed a hit to keep the puck alive, Jesperi Kotkaniemi held the zone, and Carrier found Jankowski alone in the slot. It was a textbook example of how effort and puck support can lead to goals.
A few minutes later, Carolina struck again. Frederik Andersen made a sharp outlet pass that led to a miscue by the Capitals’ defense, and Sebastian Aho pounced.
His relentless pressure forced a turnover, and he buried it for a 2-0 lead. It was a classic Aho goal-speed, smarts, and finish.
Despite being outshot 19-12 in the first, Carolina went into the intermission up two, thanks in large part to Andersen, who was dialed in early.
Building the Lead… and Letting It Slip
Carolina came out with more jump in the second. Just four minutes in, Jordan Staal forced a turnover in the neutral zone, and Jordan Martinook found Shayne Gostisbehere with a cross-ice feed. Gostisbehere’s wrister, aided by a double screen, beat the goalie clean for a 3-0 lead.
But that’s when the tide started to turn.
Less than four minutes later, a failed clear led to Washington’s first goal. Hendrix Lapierre was left alone in front and cashed in on a second-chance opportunity. It was a crack in the armor, and the Capitals kept pressing.
The middle of the second period turned messy. Hall was called for interference-his second penalty of the game-and while Carolina managed to draw a penalty of their own to even things up, the resulting four-on-three and five-on-three power plays yielded nothing. No shots on goal during over a minute of five-on-three time is the kind of missed opportunity that can haunt a team.
Shortly after those failed power plays, another turnover led to Washington’s second goal. The lead was down to one, and Carolina was clearly on its heels.
Then, with 1:33 left in the period, Hall took his third penalty of the night-this time a delay of game. The Capitals didn’t score on the ensuing power play, but the momentum had fully shifted.
A Costly No-Call and a Gut Punch in OT
Early in the third, Sean Walker was whistled for a penalty, giving Washington more time in the offensive zone. Carolina’s penalty kill remained perfect on the night, going 4-for-4, but the constant pressure tilted the ice.
With just under seven minutes to go, a controversial moment changed everything. Tom Wilson delivered a high elbow to Logan Stankoven, catching him in the face and drawing blood.
No penalty was called. Stankoven, clearly frustrated, chased the play looking for a hit-and that lapse in focus opened the door for Jakob Chychrun to find space in the high slot and tie the game.
It was a gut punch.
To their credit, the Hurricanes managed to hang on and force overtime. Andersen continued to be their best player, keeping them afloat when things got chaotic.
But in the extra frame, Carolina never really threatened. Just 1:42 into OT, Washington sealed the comeback.
Takeaways
This one’s going to sting for Carolina. Not just because of the blown lead, but because of how it happened. They were in full control at 3-0, and then let the game slip away with defensive breakdowns, penalties, and missed chances.
Andersen was excellent, and the penalty kill did its job. But when you can’t capitalize on a five-on-three, and your top players are taking costly penalties, it’s tough to win in this league-especially against a desperate team like Washington.
Brind’Amour’s postgame comments weren’t just about effort-they were about accountability. This is a team with high expectations, and games like this are reminders that talent alone doesn’t win games.
Execution does. And on Thursday night, the Hurricanes left too much on the table.