Hurricanes Prevail in OT, Take Game 1 2-1 Over Capitals

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 in overtime in Game 1 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoff series, taking a 1-0 series lead. Jaccob Slavin scored the game-winning goal early in overtime, capitalizing on Carolina's persistent offensive pressure and a screened shot from the blue line. Despite Washington's early lead on a goal by Aliaksei Protas and a strong defensive performance featuring numerous blocked shots, the Hurricanes dominated both puck possession and shot attempts, outshooting the Capitals 33-14 and out-attempting them by a wide margin. Logan Stankoven tied the game for Carolina in the third period, and Frederik Andersen, returning from injury, made 13 saves for the Hurricanes. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson kept his team in the game with 31 saves, while Washington's offense struggled to generate chances, failing to register a single shot in overtime. Both teams demonstrated their contrasting styles: Carolina's volume shooting and aggressive forecheck versus Washington's defensive resilience and shot blocking.