Capitals Fall to Hurricanes, Eliminated from Playoffs

Washington, D.C. — The Washington Capitals were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing 3-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Thursday. The defeat concluded the best-of-7 series, which the Hurricanes won 4-1.

The Capitals, who finished the regular season with a record of 51-22-9 and were the first NHL team to secure a playoff spot this year on March 20, had high hopes after defeating the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. However, their momentum was halted by the Hurricanes, who outplayed them throughout the series.

Inconsistent execution plagued the Capitals, as they struggled to break out of their defensive zone, particularly in the first four games. This weakness allowed Carolina to dominate possession, leading to multiple scoring opportunities against Washington’s defense.

The Capitals only managed to tally three goals in their three losses to the Hurricanes, drastically lower than their regular season average of 3.49 goals per game. Despite a stronger performance in Game 5, which saw them score one goal, it was not enough to overcome Carolina.

Washington’s offensive shortcomings were evident, as they scored only seven goals in the entire series, leaving them far behind Carolina, who had a balanced scoring attack. Several key players, such as , struggled to find the net, with top performers from the previous series seeing a significant drop in production.

Carolina’s goaltender, , was a critical factor in the series, boasting a .937 save percentage and making crucial stops at key moments. The Capitals’ goaltender, , faced criticism for allowing 10 goals in the final three games, after a strong performance in the opening matches.

In terms of special teams, the Hurricanes maintained an advantage, converting 3-of-13 power-play chances compared to the Capitals’ 2-of-15. Missed opportunities proved costly as Washington could not capitalize when they had the chance.

The Capitals are now looking forward to the offseason, needing to assess their roster and improve for the next season. With potential unrestricted and restricted free agents on the horizon, changes could be made to bolster the team. The franchise has to rally together, putting the disappointment of this season behind them in hopes of a better 2025-2026 campaign.