Washington Capitals defenseman Jaccob Slavin didn’t immediately realize he had scored the game-winner until teammate Jordan Staal came over celebrating. His shot threaded through a crowd of players, including goaltender Logan Thompson, sealing an overtime victory for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Round 2 series.
Despite a strong showing from Thompson, who faced relentless pressure from Carolina’s offense, it was a defender who finally broke through to decide the game. The Capitals, who had trouble generating momentum all night, were left stunned and silent inside Capital One Arena.
Head coach Spencer Carbery’s full postgame media availability following Game 1 of Washington’s Second Round set with Carolina.#CapsCanes pic.twitter.com/85CZz2uRsz
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 7, 2025
From the outset, the Hurricanes dictated the pace, firing shot after shot at Thompson’s goal. Although the Capitals’ coach, Spencer Carbery, came into the game confident, he admitted afterward that his team’s overall performance was lacking. Speaking candidly in the post-game press conference, Carbery acknowledged that Carolina controlled the game from start to finish and his team failed to respond.
Carbery’s game plan fell apart as the Hurricanes outskated and outshot the Capitals, who only managed 14 shots on goal the entire game. In contrast, Thompson made 33 saves before finally being beaten in overtime. Despite the result, Carbery praised Thompson’s resilience and stellar effort in goal, especially given the goalie had recently recovered from a lower-body injury.
Carolina’s Frederik Andersen had a relatively lighter night in comparison, facing fewer shots but still standing tall when needed. But it wasn’t just the Hurricanes’ offense that overwhelmed the Caps — they also dominated physically, registering 42 hits to Washington’s 30.
Despite the defeat, there were a few bright spots for Washington. One of them was Aliaksei Protas, who had recently returned from a foot injury. In just his second game back, he scored his first NHL playoff goal, briefly giving his team the lead. It was a personal highlight in an otherwise frustrating night for the Capitals.
Forward Dylan Strome summed up the team’s feelings, noting that they never found their rhythm and struggled to play the style of hockey they’re known for. The loss makes Game 2 a must-adjust scenario for Washington, as they look to regain control of the series against a Hurricanes team that proved superior in nearly every aspect of Game 1.