Hurricanes Let One Slip in D.C., But Point Streak Lives On
The Carolina Hurricanes came into Saturday night riding a six-game point streak and eyeing a third straight win, but instead left Washington with a frustrating 4-3 overtime loss that felt like a missed opportunity more than anything else. It was the final regular-season meeting between the two clubs, and while the Canes did manage to extend their point streak to seven, this one stung - mostly because of how it slipped away.
Déjà Vu to Start and End January
If this game felt familiar to Hurricanes fans, that’s because it was. Carolina opened January with a blown lead and a tough loss, and they closed the month the same way.
This time, it wasn’t a 5-1 drubbing like the one against Pittsburgh at the end of December - but it still left a similar taste. The Canes had a 3-0 lead in the second period and ended up watching it vanish, culminating in an overtime dagger.
What’s especially concerning is how thoroughly Washington controlled the pace. The Capitals fired 19 shots in the opening period alone - a number Carolina has allowed in an entire game 11 times this season.
That set the tone. By the third period, the Canes were getting outshot 13-5, and overtime didn’t offer much relief - they didn’t register a single shot before the game-winner ended it.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour didn’t sugarcoat it 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 bold statement from a coach who’s seen his team blow five other leads this season. And while Carolina’s 33-15-6 record and 72 points are nothing to scoff at - they’re still sitting atop the Metropolitan Division - this was one of those games that could’ve easily added to their win column. Instead, it leaves them with a single point and a few more questions heading into the second half of a back-to-back.
Gostisbehere Stays Hot
One of the few bright spots? Shayne Gostisbehere continues to deliver offensively.
The veteran blueliner has been on a tear since returning from injury, and he kept that momentum going with his ninth goal of the season, giving Carolina a 3-0 cushion in the second period. It was his fourth goal in five games - a stretch that’s seen him tally five total points.
Gostisbehere has only played in 37 of the team’s 54 games, but when he’s in the lineup, he’s producing at nearly a point-per-game clip. His offensive instincts, particularly on the power play, have been a major asset. He’s picked up 12 points on the man advantage this season, including five goals - not bad for a guy who’s been battling a lingering lower-body injury.
If he can stay healthy through the final stretch before the Olympic break, there’s a real shot he could reach the 50-point mark. That’s no small feat for a defenseman, especially one who’s missed significant time. The Hurricanes will be counting on him to keep that spark going, especially with special teams becoming more crucial as the playoff race tightens.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Carolina remains tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top spot in the Eastern Conference in terms of points. They sit in the No. 2 seed due to points percentage, having played two more games than Tampa. So while Saturday night’s result was frustrating, the bigger picture still looks promising.
The good news? There’s no time to dwell.
The Hurricanes are right back at it on Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Kings. With it being the second half of a back-to-back, expect Brandon Bussi to get the start in net as Carolina looks to push the point streak to eight and - more importantly - get back in the win column.
This team has shown it can bounce back, and they’ll need to do just that against a Kings squad that’s been tough all year. The Canes have the talent. Now it’s about putting together 60 minutes - something they couldn’t quite manage in Washington.