The Carolina Hurricanes were defeated 2-1 by the Washington Capitals Monday night at PNC Arena.
The Hurricanes (13-16-5) hung with the Capitals (25-6-2) all game, and in fact outplayed them for a good portion of it, but mistakes and the team’s inability to score cost the Canes a chance to beat the NHL’s top team.
Carolina jumped out to a strong start, creating some quality scoring chances against the Caps, and preventing one of the NHL’s highest-scoring teams from developing sustained, offensive pressure.
Washington picked up its play as the period wore on, after falling behind 7-1 in shots on goal in the game’s first eight minutes.
The Capitals got on the scoreboard in the first period on a rebound goal from forward Michael Latta. A routine shot from Caps forward Andre Burakovsky hit Canes goalie Cam Ward in the chest, but Ward was unable to control it, and the rebound fell straight to Latta who was alone in front of the net.
Despite playing a solid first period, the Canes headed to the locker room down 1-0 to the Capitals, who entered the game with a 17-1-0 record this season when scoring the first goal.
Washington took control of the game in the second period, spending much of the second 20 minutes in the Carolina zone.
About 13 minutes into the middle frame, the Caps extended their lead to 2-0 after the Canes iced the puck, creating a faceoff in the Carolina zone.
Washington defenseman John Carlson blasted a slap shot on net after the Caps won the faceoff. The puck hit Caps forward Jason Chimera, who was jockeying for position in front of the net with Canes defenseman Justin Faulk, and deflected past Ward and into the net.
“The game-winner comes off a faceoff,” Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters said. “That’s the importance of puck possession and winning draws.”
Carolina forward Kris Versteeg pulled the Canes to within one goal in the third period on one of the most beautiful hockey plays of the year.
Versteeg corralled the puck along the goal line after teammate John-Michael Liles’ shot missed the net and bounced off the end boards. Versteeg pulled the puck between his legs and fired it into the net, all in one motion, in a play that is sure to make highlight reels across North America.
“[Versteeg] is a very good player and a guy that can make those plays,” Liles said. “The puck always seems to find his stick and when it does, it’s tough to get it off him. He made a great play, putting it through his legs, and getting it in, and giving us a chance to tie.”
The Canes had one final opportunity to tie the game on a power play with a minute and a half left in the third, but were unable to convert, falling 2-1 to the top team in the NHL.
“For the most part, I think defensively, we were fine,” Peters said. “We just needed to find a way to score. That’s something that needs to get straightened out.”
