In Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series, the Washington Capitals fell 2-1 in overtime to the Carolina Hurricanes—but the close score masked a lopsided performance. Despite holding the only regulation lead, the Caps were thoroughly outplayed, getting outshot 33-14 and out-attempted 94-34. Carolina’s relentless forechecking and predictable shot-heavy strategy left Washington on its heels for most of the night, and a late-game mistake led to the equalizer before an unlucky overtime bounce sealed the Hurricanes' win. Postgame, Capitals players and coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged that the issue wasn’t what Carolina did—it was what Washington didn’t do.

Looking ahead to Game 2, the Capitals know the blueprint for bouncing back: establish sustained offensive zone time, get physical, and pressure Carolina’s defense. Nic Dowd emphasized the need to play in the offensive end to reduce the Hurricanes' shot volume, while Carbery stressed the importance of balancing the game and winning puck battles. With stars like Alex Ovechkin needing to make a bigger impact and special teams still a question, Game 2 becomes a critical test of identity and resilience. Washington doesn’t need to outshoot Carolina—they just need to dictate more of the play and capitalize on the chances they do get.

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