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Washington Capitals: Game 3 Preview at Carolina Hurricanes

By Michael Marzzacco |
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 13: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime giving the Capitals a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 13: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Washington Capitals is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winning goal in overtime giving the Capitals a 4-3 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 13, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The Washington Capitals head down south to the Carolinas up 2-0 on their 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs journey.

But when they reach their destination they won’t be munching on Carolina BBQ. They’ll be ready to go to battle against a desperate Carolina Hurricanes team looking to get back in the series. That’s not all.

The Washington Capitals will be subjected to a hostile road playoff environment in front of a fanbase chomping at the bit at a chance of losing their voice for the first time in 10 years. While intimidating, it isn’t anything the defending Stanley Cup champions couldn’t handle.

The Capitals went 10-3 on the road during last season’s run to the Stanley Cup. Winning on the road in the Stanley Cup playoffs is no easy task and the Capitals faced tough environments in each venue last season.

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There’s no telling whether or not Justin Williams was telling the truth about the Hurricanes’ famous “storm surge” being retired. Williams may have said that for the statement about focusing on winning or just to appease media pundits like Don Cherry. There’s only one way to not find out and that’s to win.

The Capitals won the first two games of the series by both playing with a championship swagger and remaining calm when things weren’t going their way.

In Game 1, the Hurricanes cut a three-goal deficit to one before Washington hung on by killing two consecutive penalties and putting the game away with an empty net goal. In Game 2, the Capitals surrendered leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before Brooks Orpik won the game in overtime.

In the 4-3 Game 2 victory, the Capitals also got goals from Nicklas Backstrom (who’s been on fire lately), T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson. Braden Holtby stopped 25-of-28 shots in the win for an .893 save percentage.

For the Capitals to have success in Game 3, they need to get off to a strong start. Doing so will take the raucous crowd out of the game and help establish a rhythm. They also have to keep their foot on the gas pedal and not play relaxed hockey no matter how big the lead or score is.

Next. Saturday was a good day for D.C. Sports. dark

It should be an interesting Game 3. We’ll see if the Capitals can do what the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets are currently doing to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning, respectively. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington locally and on CNBC nationally.

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