Capitals falter in 3rd to Hurricanes

The Washington Capitals have now dropped their fifth game in a row after blowing a 2-0 lead to the Carolina Hurricanes, perhaps putting a dagger to their playoff hopes with just six games left to play. The two goals were scored by Alex Ovechkin, who nearly had a hat trick had the post not said no later in the game.

At first it looked like it would be a big Caps win on the road after they played awful the night before on home ice in a 4-1 loss to the Pitsburgh Penguins.

Both of Alex Ovechkin's goals came in the opening period. First one came at 3:31 fed by Dylan Strome and Trevor van Riemsdyk for his 850th of his career and 28th of the season.

The second one came at 19:15 and it was a deflection after Strome won the face off and John Carlson shot the puck. It was Ovi's 29th of the season and 851st of his career, putting him 43 away from tying Wayne Gretzky and 44 away from passing him.

At 14:30 it was Jake Guentzel to put the Hurricanes on the board. The Caps went 0 for 3 on the power play but the Canes would get power play chances galore in the third period and it would do the Capitals in.

First it was Martin Necas at 11:40 to tie the game. That came after Sonny Milano was called for interference. Then Rasmus Sandin was called for hooking Sebastian Aho which in a 2-2 game put the Canes on the power play attack with just a tad over two minutes to go.

Aho would then score at 18:09 to give the Canes the lead for good. Guentzel, a former Penguin we should add, put the game away with an empty net goal.

Around the league the Caps got all the help in the world and STILL couldn't get the two points. The Sabres beat the Flyers 4-2 and the Rangers beat the Red Wings 4-3. As things currently stand the Islanders occupy the third wild card spot and they can have the Hurricanes at this point.

The Caps are just a point back of the Flyers and so are the Red Wings with the Pens right behind them.