5/6/2025
(Washington DC)
Jacob Slavin scored 3:06 into overtime to hand the Carolina Hurricanes victory over the Washington Capitals in game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Carolina saw a goal in regulation from midseason trade acquisition Logan Stankoven on top of the overtime winner from Jacob Slavin. Aliaksei Protas scored the lone Capitals goal in the loss.
The Carolina Hurricanes came into the second round off a five game series win over the New Jersey Devils. The Canes advanced with stout goaltending, a question mark heading into the playoffs. That question mark was tested again versus the best regular season team from the east in Washington. The Capitals not only had a memorable regular season mathematically, but also thanks to achievements historically from their Great 8 star. Alex Ovechkin in March, broke the NHL All Time Goals Scoring Mark, surpassing Wayne Gretzky. The Caps comfortably claimed the top spot in the east. Washington backed up their status in the conference with a physical five game series win over the Montreal Canadiens.
The series is a rematch of the 2019 first round encounter won by Carolina in game 7 overtime off a goal from Brock McGinn, eliminating the then defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals.
Carolina started goaltender Frederick Andersen while Washington started Logan Thompson between the pipes.
The first period saw Washington edge Carolina in shots on goal 12-5 with none of them going in.
Period number two saw its first breakthrough at 3:53, when Aliaksei Protas barreled down right wing and wristed a shot by Frederick Andersen to put Washington in front 1-0. The Caps lead 1-0 after 40 minutes.
Carolina put the pedal to the metal in the third period. The Canes outshot Washington 11-3 in the frame. Midseason trade acquisition Logan Stankoven leveled the game off a steal from Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Stankoven’s went top shelf on Washington netminder Logan Thompson at 9:42 to tie the game.
The stalemate needed bonus hockey to decide a winner. It did not take long before game 1 had its victor.
Hurricane Jacob Slavin’s slap shot from the right point found the back net 3:06 into overtime to hand the Hurricanes a 2-1 win.
Logan Thompson did all he could to keep Washington in the game making 31 saves. Frederick Andersen was tested sparingly with needing to make 13 saves to record the win.
The game winning goal scorer Jacob Slavin said after the game to the media, “We were all over it and we knew we had to just throw everything at the net. So, yeah, that mentality paid off there at the end”. Carolina peppered shot after shot on Washington’s Logan Thompson, and it proved enough to come up with the win in game 1.
Up Next: Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night at 4pm pacific on ESPN.
Stay tuned to ESN for more updates on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the National Hockey League.
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