The Washington Capitals are staring down elimination, and Spencer Carbery is finally pulling every lever he can in a do-or-die Game 5. Moving Connor McMichael back to center, shuffling Anthony Beauvillier onto the top line, and even overhauling the power play shows that Carbery knows the current formula isn’t working. It’s not just about execution anymore—it’s about identity. This team needs speed, structure, and some level of unpredictability, or this series ends fast.

On the other side, the Carolina Hurricanes are playing with a level of composure and structure that’s simply suffocating the Caps. They’re not taking the bait from agitators like Tom Wilson, they’re dominating puck battles, and they’re turning every Washington mistake into a counterattack opportunity. Meanwhile, Logan Thompson continues to battle in net with minimal support—yet again being asked to be flawless just to keep things close. But if the Caps don’t fix their systemic breakdowns and give their goaltender some help, it won’t matter who’s in the crease. This series could be over in five.

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