"Home Ice: Secured": 2024-25 Regular Season, Game 78: Hurricanes at Washington Capitals

In a battle eight days in the making, the Canes and the Capitals collided to conclude their four-game season series. Their war in Raleigh turned bitter in the third period last Wednesday night as the Canes prevailed, 5-1. With both sides already locked into the playoffs and little to play for on either side, the first period would be telling as to whether any bad blood would carry over. For the Canes, they really need this victory as they conclude a tough road trip in the nation's capital.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (5:42)- Logan Stankoven (13) (Andrei Svechnikov (27) & Jack Roslovic (17))

CAR (7:14)- Jackson Blake (16) (Seth Jarvis (32))

WSH (18:06)- Pierre-Luc Dubois (20) PP (Andrew Mangiapane (14) & Rsmus Sandin (25))

2nd Period

WSH (10:50)- Ryan Strome (26) PP (Alex Ovechkin (28))

WHS (16:51)- Nic Dowd (14) (Brandon Duhaime (12) & John Carlson (46))

WSH (17:29)- Tom Wilson (33) (Connor McMichael (31))

3rd Period

CAR (4:42)- Jordan Martinook (14) (Brent Burns (21) & Jordan Staal (22))

CAR (18:15)- Seth Jarvis (31) (Sebastian Aho (43) & Brent Burns (22))

Overtime

None

Shootout

WSH- Pierre-Luc Dubois

My Thoughts

Where was the team that started this game during the first three games of the road trip? The Hurricanes came out of the gates like a team with their hair on fire, putting a ton of volcanized rubber on Charlie Lindgren's net. Better yet, they scored twice. The second one was a weird one, with Tom Wilson hitting Jackson Blake into Lindgren, thus pushing the puck into the net, too. It resembled the goal the Canes allowed to the Sharks a few weeks ago. Wilson was the reason for the contact, though I can see Washington's argument about Lindgren having the puck under him and covered. The Capitals couldn't generate any offense, though the first chance they got, they turned the game on its head. 

There's an argument to be made that Sean Walker's slashing penalty late in the first period was the turning point in the game. The Canes had all of the momentum in the world heading into the final minutes of the opening period. Instead, Washington was given life at the end of the period by Pierre-Luc Dubois' goal. It turned into three goals in the second period for Washington, including another on the power play before a pair of goals 38 seconds apart. I'm not sure I've seen two polar opposite periods this season than what we saw in the first 40 minutes tonight. Washington couldn't be stopped in the second period, and the Canes found themselves in a hole they only had themselves to blame for. 

Washington's run continued into the early part of the third period before Jordan Martinook seized the momentum back on the Canes' side. It was a seemingly harmless wrister from the point that traveled through layers of traffic in front of Lindgren and into the net less than five minutes into the frame. The Canes were the better team in the third, but the period felt very low-event. Frederik Andersen made his way to the bench with just over two minutes left, and after saving an empty-net goal on one end, Seth Jarvis raced for the ice, drove the middle, and finished Sebastian Aho's pass past Lindgren to tie the game with 1:45 left. The Canes found their way back into the game, ensuring they'd get a point out of a game they'd lost complete control of.

They'd fall in the shootout, which surprised exactly no one, but their point tonight ensured they'd begin the postseason in front of their fans for the fifth straight season. For a team that can't decide whether it's good on the road or not, getting off to a hot start at home against the Devils feels like the recipe for success. I don't think the Canes have anything else to play for now. There are four games left, and they can't improve their position within the division. Their final four games are against a team not making the playoffs (Rangers), a team fighting for a division crown (Maple Leafs), and the two Wild Card teams (Senators, Canadiens). Frankly, the other teams aren't playing for much either, outside of the Maple Leafs, who the Canes will face during the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday. It's time to start resting your players. 

#RaiseUp First Star of the Game- Seth Jarvis

Along with Brent Burns (2A), Seth Jarvis recorded a multi-point night, assisting on Jackson Blake's goal before scoring the game-tying goal late in regulation. Jarvis had a golden opportunity early in the first period on the power play, hitting the post with Lindgren unaware of the cross-seam pass by Taylor Hall. He also saved a goal, knocking down Alex Ovechkin's empty-net attempt before scoring his 31st of the season. 

The Road Ahead- Four games separate the Hurricanes from the Devils and Game 1. They'll play a pair of back-to-backs to finish the season. The first comes at home this weekend against New York and Toronto before concluding the regular season next Wednesday and Thursday in Montreal and Ottawa.