The Washington Capitals’ season came to a crushing end Thursday night with a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series. In what was arguably Washington’s strongest performance of the series, the game remained deadlocked for nearly 58 minutes until Andrei Svechnikov netted the game-winning goal with just under two minutes left. Despite a relentless push and multiple high-quality chances, the Capitals couldn't solve Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen, who stopped 18 of 19 shots. Anthony Beauvillier scored Washington’s lone goal, tying the game early in the first after Jordan Staal opened the scoring for Carolina.

The Capitals had numerous opportunities to take control, including a called-back goal by Matt Roy in the second period due to an offside entry and three power plays that failed to produce results. Logan Thompson stood tall in net for Washington, making key saves and keeping the game close, but the offense struggled to finish. As the clock ticked down and the Hurricanes pulled ahead, the energy at Capital One Arena turned from hopeful to heartbreak. Seth Jarvis sealed the win with an empty-net goal, and with that, Washington’s postseason run—and season—came to a bitter close.

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Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Tom Callahan (Locked on Mammoth), Kyle Kjer (Locked On Ducks) and Shukri Wrights (Locked On NHL Game Night) are here to check in on the second round of the playoffs, before talking about some of the newly hired coaches, including Joel Quenneville and Rick Tocchet!

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The Washington Capitals are staring down elimination, and Spencer Carbery is finally pulling every lever he can in a do-or-die Game 5. Moving Connor McMichael back to center, shuffling Anthony Beauvillier onto the top line, and even overhauling the power play shows that Carbery knows the current formula isn’t working. It’s not just about execution anymore—it’s about identity. This team needs speed, structure, and some level of unpredictability, or this series ends fast.

On the other side, the Carolina Hurricanes are playing with a level of composure and structure that’s simply suffocating the Caps. They’re not taking the bait from agitators like Tom Wilson, they’re dominating puck battles, and they’re turning every Washington mistake into a counterattack opportunity. Meanwhile, Logan Thompson continues to battle in net with minimal support—yet again being asked to be flawless just to keep things close. But if the Caps don’t fix their systemic breakdowns and give their goaltender some help, it won’t matter who’s in the crease. This series could be over in five.

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The Washington Capitals are on the verge of elimination after a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4. Despite showing flashes of energy early, the team couldn’t sustain momentum and collapsed under Carolina’s relentless pressure. A critical four-minute power play in the first period turned into a missed opportunity, highlighting how the Hurricanes’ elite penalty kill has neutralized Washington’s offense. While the Caps have been able to push back at times, it’s clear that Carolina is in control of the series.

On the defensive side, the absence of Martin Fehervary has become a glaring issue. His replacement, Alexander Alexeyev, struggled mightily in Game 4 and was benched for the entire third period. Logan Thompson has played admirably in goal, but he’s losing the netminding battle to Frederik Andersen, who leads the postseason in goals-against average and save percentage. Unless the Capitals make significant adjustments before Game 5, this could be the end of their playoff run.

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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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The Washington Capitals dropped Game 3 in brutal fashion, falling 4-0 to the Hurricanes after their strongest opening period of the series. Despite dominating early — highlighted by Ovechkin’s five shots in 29 seconds and relentless pressure — the Caps couldn’t solve Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen. Momentum flipped hard in the second period: defensive breakdowns, particularly from John Carlson, left goalie Logan Thompson exposed as the Canes piled on four unanswered goals. What began as a statement start ended in total collapse, putting Washington in a must-win scenario heading into Game 4.

The loss wasn’t just about execution — it was about leadership disappearing in a moment of need. Neither Ovechkin nor Carlson rose to the occasion, and their struggles are glaring. Ovechkin still has zero points this postseason, while Carlson was directly involved in multiple goals against. With the series now 2-1 in Carolina’s favor and Game 4 looming, the Capitals face elimination-mode urgency. To survive, they’ll need elite performances from their veterans, sharper special teams, and a full-team response — or they risk ending their postseason in a whimper.

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In this episode of Locked On Capitals, we dive into the changing role of Alex Ovechkin as he takes on a more specialized, lower-minute assignment in the playoffs. While Ovi’s ice time has dropped to a career-low average of 16 minutes per game, he’s still making a meaningful impact with four goals and heavy physical play. Spencer Carbery is managing Ovi’s deployment strategically — using him in offensive-zone starts while trusting other players to close games. It’s a big shift, but one that’s working so far.

We also highlight Carbery’s strong playoff coaching moves, including his bold lineup adjustment in Game 2 by inserting Taylor Raddysh and tightening the bench late in the game. The Capitals responded with their most complete performance of the postseason — a 3-1 win over Carolina to even the series. Connor McMichael and John Carlson provided clutch goals, Logan Thompson held it down in net, and Tom Wilson added a huge insurance goal. Now with momentum shifting, the Caps head to Raleigh for Game 3 with confidence.

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After falling short in Game 1, the Washington Capitals responded with urgency and resilience in Game 2, defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 to even the series. Connor McMichael opened the scoring with a critical breakaway goal early in the second period, and Washington tightened up defensively, weathering Carolina’s relentless forecheck while creating more offensive opportunities of their own. The turning point came in the third when John Carlson capitalized on a power play—Washington’s first of the postseason—after a brilliant assist from Tom Wilson, who emerged as the heartbeat of the Capitals’ performance.

Wilson’s all-around impact defined the game, from his physical play and penalty-killing to his offensive contributions and leadership. He set the emotional tone, energized the crowd, and helped the Capitals stave off a late Carolina push, eventually sealing the win with an empty-net goal. Goaltender Logan Thompson stood tall with 27 saves, while Washington’s 32 blocked shots underscored a gritty, team-wide effort. Heading into Game 3 in Raleigh, the Caps carry not just momentum—but belief.

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