Washington Capitals Drop Game 4, Series vs. Carolina Now Tied

The Washington Capitals began this week with a 2-0 series lead over the Carolina Hurricanes. After dropping Games 3 and 4, they’ll enter the weekend with the series tied.

The Washington Capitals fell in Game 4 to the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in a close, hard-fought game. While the Capitals put together a better effort than Game 3, it just wasn’t enough. The Hurricanes struck first 17 seconds in with Warren Foegele‘s third goal of the playoffs to put the Capitals in an early 1-0 hole.

In Game 3, the Capitals allowed 45 shots while putting up 18 including only one in the second period. This time around, the Capitals had the edge in shots 31-24. Their best period came in the second when they outshot the Hurricanes 14-9.

That second period was when the Capitals evened the score. Teuvo Teravainen was called for hooking T.J. Oshie at 8:42, putting the Capitals on the man-advantage. Alex Ovechkin struck on the power play, the Capitals first power play goal after failing the previous 11 tries.

The goal was Ovechkin’s second of the playoffs and first goal since Game 1. Ovechkin’s goal was his 63rd career playoff goal, tying Evgeni Malkin for the 26th most playoff goals in NHL history. On special teams. Ovechkin now has 23 career power play goals, tying Joe Nieuwendyk and Brian Bellows for the 24th most PPGs in the playoffs. Dmitry Orlov and Lars Eller were credited with the assists.

Momentum shifted to the Capitals side for the majority of that second period… until just before it ended. Teravainen scored his first goal of the playoffs with 28 seconds to go to put the Hurricanes back in front.

Late in the third period it got worse for the Capitals. Foegele boarded Oshie at 14:52 yet was only called for boarding and not a match penalty. Oshie was pushed into the boards face first and struggled to get up.

Capitals coach Todd Reirden stated after the game that Oshie will be out for “quite some time“. Ovechkin, who was upset after the hit and even followed Foegele to the penalty box yelling at him simply had this to say.

“It’s a dirty play. It has to be not two minutes. It has to be a different call,” said Ovechkin.

Per Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post, Reirden will provide an update on Friday afternoon after the team’s optional skate with more specifics on the Oshie injury. In the meantime, the Capitals have brought back last year’s playoff hero Devante Smith-Pelly, recalling him from the Hershey Bears Friday morning.

The Capitals look to go back up in the series on Saturday night in Game 5. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. on NBC.