Capitals frustrated by Hurricanes: Carolina wins 5-0
With Game 3 heading to Raleigh, NC, the Capitals had an opportunity to take a commanding 3-0 series lead against a young Hurricanes squad. After an electric first 5 minutes, the wheels fell off the bus, with the Capitals getting dominated in every facet of the game.
The Hurricanes outshot the Capitals 45-18, with 9 of those Capitals shots coming in the first period. At one point in the 3rd period, the Canes had outshot the Caps 28-2. Only one shot in the second period, which isn’t an ideal response to a deficit.
1st Period
Washington started out the game on the attack, peppering Petr Mrazek with good shots that didn’t find the net. Canes forward Michael Ferland left the game 5 minutes in after a collision with Tom Wilson. 2018 2nd overall pick Andrei Svechnikov was the next Canes forward to exit the game. The young rookie exchanged jabs with Alex Ovechkin before both players dropped the gloves. A quick 3 punch combo from Ovechkin dropped Svechnikov, KO’ing the young Russian. Everything after that was all Carolina all game.
Warren Foegele, who scored a beautiful goal against the Capitals in their last meeting, kicked off the scoring with a deflection that popped up over Holtby and dribbled across the line.
2nd Period
Warren Foegele scored his second of the game after a pass from Sebastian Aho that Braden Holtby nearly snagged.
Dougie Hamilton scored the next Canes goal on the power play, snapping a shot past a screened Holtby to make it 3-0.
3rd Period
The Capitals went nearly 18 minutes without a shot, which typically isn’t a recipe for success when trying to come back from a 3 goal hole.
Dougie Hamilton got the Canes fourth goal, once again on a power play, with a slap shot that beat Holtby blocker-side.
Brock McGinn tallied his first of the playoffs with a short-side snap past Holtby on an ugly defensive sequence by the Caps.
Quick Thoughts…
- This game was ugly. Take a look below at how the game went..
Everything is looking pretty rosy for the Caps in period 1. Sure, they’re down one goal, but they were pushing the pace and getting shots. Everything from that point on was all Canes.
2. The Capitals struggled to generate any offense at all, but the lack of shots at all in front of their net was a disturbingly bad trend that got worse as the game went on.
3. The Canes lived in front of the Capitals net, as Washington spent the last 40 minutes chasing the puck around the defensive zone. This needs to change in Game 4, or this series could easily get out of hand for Washington.
4. I try to keep refrain from criticizing referees, but I’m not entirely sure what the officiating crew saw during that game. From the moment that Ovechkin knocked Svechnikov out, the referees put their whistles away and seemed to miss calls that could have swung momentum back in Washington’s favor. Missed calls happen, but 2 missed high-sticks, a slash, and a blatant boarding call all went uncalled right in front of referees.
5. This game wasn’t on Holtby at all. The first goal was a bit soft, but I don’t see anything else that could be criticized.
6. Christian Djoos got manhandled all night. I wouldn’t mind seeing Jonas Seigenthaler subbed in his place, because the Canes are overwhelming Djoos physically.
7. Game 4 is in Raleigh, NC on Thursday. Puck drop at 7:20 pm.
