The Washington Capitals did exactly what they had to do in Game 2. They came away with a 3-1 win to even up the best of seven second round series with the Carolina Hurricanes at a game apiece. Everyone stepped up but who were the three top stars.
#3 Connor McMichael
Connor McMichael set the tone with a beautiful goal to open up the scoring. For McMichael it was his fourth goal of the playoffs and his four goals are tied with Alex Ovechkin for the team lead.
His four goals also rank tied for seventh among all skaters in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He has recorded six points with four goals and two assists in seven playoff games which ranks second on the Capitals behind Dylan Strome.
"It was kind of a weird play there. The guy got hit in the face and the puck was just sitting there. A bit of a lucky bounce for me, but we'll take it. "Connor McMichael
#2 Logan Thompson
When the team needed him most, Logan Thompson once again delivered in net. This time he helped stall a Carolina Hurricanes offensive attack and he did much better than Game 1.
Thompson made 27 saves including 16 in the third period. He faced 28 shots overall and picked up his fifth win in seven starts this postseason. Thompson ahs allowed two goals or fewer in six of his seven starts.
#1 Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson finished with a goal and an assist. He also had a couple of key blocked shots. One of them came late in the first on Jordan Staal and the other came during a final shift of the second period when he denied a shot from former Capital Dmitry Orlov.
"I thought he was leading the charge tonight. Even before the play he makes on the power play and on the empty netter, I just thought he was really engaged. And his line was good tonight; they did some good things forecheck wise and (offensive) zone wise. They were just a touch off a few plays, him and (Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael). He was good tonight. "Spencer Carbery