Despite bold declarations of confidence between Games 3 and 4, the Washington Capitals came out flat once again and were outclassed by the Carolina Hurricanes, falling 5-2 and dropping to a 3-1 series deficit. The team started with intensity, but that momentum vanished after one disastrous shift early in the first period, which marked the beginning of Carolina’s domination. The Hurricanes controlled puck possession, dictated the pace, and forced repeated errors out of a jittery Capitals lineup. Carolina’s suffocating forecheck, combined with Frederik Andersen’s steady goaltending, stifled Washington’s offense, while Sebastian Aho and company capitalized on nearly every opportunity.

The Capitals’ power play was a disaster, squandering a four-minute man advantage and mustering just one shot on goal across two chances. Jakob Chychrun and Alex Ovechkin did manage to score, but defensive lapses and poor puck management gave Carolina all the room it needed to bury the game. With their season now on the line, the Capitals return to D.C. for Game 5 needing more than heart—they’ll need composure, clean execution, and contributions from all four lines if they want to extend the series.

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