📸 : RMNB
The Washington Capitals didn’t have their best or second-best against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. However, the Caps grinded things out against the Canes and probably should have even taken two points from what ended up being a 3-2 shootout loss.
I can’t stand watching Carolina. Rod Brind’Amour is the José Mourinho of the NHL, just without any of the championship success.
Per usual in a game against the Hurricanes, the Capitals didn’t have a ton of the puck at five-on-five. They were able to combat that possession very well earlier in the season, but it proved tougher on Thursday night, as Carolina out-attempted them 72-39, outshot them 34-20, and left them at a scoring-chance disadvantage (33-22) and a high-danger-chance disadvantage (17-12). With that said, they were probably one Rasmus Sandin turnover away from winning this game in regulation.
Nic Dowd was easily the most noticeable skater for the Capitals, getting into a fight, scoring the goal that put them up 2-1, and delivering five hits in the game. Good to have him back and looking very effective over the past few games.
Alex Ovechkin became the 11th player in NHL history to record 1,800 points in the regular season and playoffs combined with his assist on Connor McMichael’s goal. Ovechkin’s 110 career points against the Hurricanes in the regular season are the most he has recorded against a single opponent.
Rasmus Sandin registered his second assist of the game on Dowd’s go-ahead goal. It marks Sandin’s first multi-assist performance of the season and the 12th of his career.
— Capitals PR (@CapitalsPR) December 12, 2025
This one was not Jakob Chychrun’s brightest game of the season, as with him on the ice at five-on-five, the Capitals were down heavily in shot attempts (25-11), scoring chances (15-4), and high-danger chances (6-1). After his recent 10-game point streak, Chychrun has just two points (1g, 1a) in his last six games.
Logan Thompson was phenomenal yet again, making 37 stops on 39 shots faced. According to MoneyPuck, he saved 1.98 more goals than expected, slightly outperforming Brandon Bussi at the other end for Carolina, who saved 1.24 more goals than expected.
The Capitals have earned at least one standings point in nine straight games (7-0-2) and in 13 of their last 14 (10-1-3).
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