The Washington Capitals are back for Round 2 after a five-day break in game action. Washington will battle their budding rival, the Carolina Hurricanes, for the opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 and the third time in team history (1998).

To get there, the Capitals will need to handle a quick-strike Hurricanes team at five-on-five that is hungry to make a long playoff run and is elite at special teams — both on the power play and penalty kill. Winning this round will not be easy: every major analytics predictive model is picking the Hurricanes in this series.

Frederik Andersen, who is returning from an injury in the first round of the playoffs, will get the start in goal and oppose Logan Thompson in net.

Puck drop for Game 1 is at 7:00 pm on ESPN. Let’s go Caps! Work your magic, Tom Wilson’s lucky egg.

Lines

Washington Capitals

Carolina Hurricanes

Tunnel shenanigans

1st Period

Bob McDonald and Caleb Green sing the national anthem.

Puck is dropped.

Each team starts its fourth line against each other. Martinook-Jarvis-Staal and Orlov-Chatfield vs. Duhaime-Dowd-Protas and Sandin-Roy.

Pierre-Luc Dubois almost connects with Tom Wilson on a rush in the offensive zone.

Martinook nearly deflects a shot home in front from just outside the crease.

Tom Wilson with big hits on Dmitry Orlov and Jalen Chatfield during his first two shifts.

Shot attempts are 11 to 1 Canes early 4:58 into the first period. Carolina has two shots on goal, the Caps still don’t have one yet.

Sebastian Aho high-sticks Alex Alexeyev in his bubble shield while forechecking at 7:02.

Capitals power play.

Alex Ovechkin’s one-timer broke Tom Wilson’s stick in half as he tried to deflect it near the crease. That’s superhero power there.

Canes kill power play.

Shayne Gotisbehere rings one hard off the post after a Canes faceoff win in the offensive zone.

Brandon Duhaime holds Dmitry Orlov, but not in a loving way. Canes to their first power play at 14:51 of the period.

Canes power play.

Capitals kill power play.

The Capital One Arena crowd is roaring in approval after that PK. Very loud.

Matt Roy with a backhanded chance near the net. Yes, Matt Roy jumping into the play.

At intermission: The Hurricanes outshot the Caps 12 to 5 and out-attempted them at all strengths 37 to 14. But the good news is the score remains 0-0.

2nd Period

Puck is dropped.

Dylan Strome with a chance down low.

Connor McMichael races past Brent Burns down the left wing but doesn’t get a shot away as he tries a wraparound.

Pierre-Luc Dubois rings one hard off the crossbar in the slot.

🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH Goal: Aliaksei Protas (1). Assists: B. Duhaime (1), J. Carlson (2). Time: 03:53.

Great work by Brandon Duhaime at the defensive blue line, springing Aliaksei Protas on a two-on-one. He beats Andersen to the far post with a low shot.

Logan Thompson looks really sharp and calm tonight.

Alex Ovechkin with a big hit on Seth Jarvis. Anthony Beauvillier then just misses wide open in front of the net.

ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and rapper Wale among celebrities at Game 1 of Capitals-Hurricanes series

Andrei Svechnikov rings one hard off the crossbar again. That’s the second time in this game. He had five goals in the first round against the Devils tying a team record.

Tom Wilson took a big ol’ dive with 2 seconds remaining trying to draw a penalty on Aho. Tom, bruh, c’mon, that’s penalty worthy.

At intermission: The Capitals lead, somewhat improbably, 1-0. The Hurricanes are outshooting the Capitals 20 to 11 and 65 to 20 in five-on-five shot attempts.

3rd Period

Puck is dropped.

NOBODY SAY THE S WORD. LOGAN WILL HEAR YOU.

Jackson Blake to the box for tripping John Carlson at 0:27 of the third period.

Caps power play.

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