May 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates with Capitals center Nic Dowd (26) after scoring an empty net goal as Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake (53) looks on in the third period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/07402919-18da-4e2e-a8c4-2e4f084125fd.jpeg] May 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates with Capitals center Nic Dowd (26) after scoring an empty net goal as Carolina Hurricanes right wing Jackson Blake (53) looks on in the third period in game two of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) The Carolina Hurricanes fell 3-1 to the Washington Capitals Thursday night in Game 2 [https://thehockeynews.com/shortUrl/BiWmr5k] at Capital One Arena. The Canes weren't able to replicate their comeback success from Game 1 [https://thehockeynews.com/shortUrl/pLxfvDY], but still are heading back home with a 1-1 series split. After the game, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Sean Walker and Jordan Staal spoke with the media in Washington. Here's what they had to say: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ROD BRIND'AMOUR On the game: We certainly weren't great, that's for sure. I think you have to give Washington credit. I mean, they played a much better game. First goal was kind of a weird one, goes off of our defenseman for a breakaway. You don't really see that too often, but there were plays they could have scored too that would have still made the game what it was. We have to be better, that's for sure. We knew it was going to be hard. Having said that, we were still right in the game. On when the ice started to tilt the other way: That [first] goal was a tough one just because of the way it happened. Nothing going on and then all of a sudden, it's a breakaway because we banged it off of our own guy. Then that got them going for sure. Like I said, we hung in there and then we take a penalty and they make a nice play on the power play. Now you're down two. I give our guys credit. We had a couple chances, got one back, then we had the 2-on-1, finally created one and we didn't handle that very well. You have to give them credit. They dug in and we knew it was going to be like this. It's not surprising. Just have to regroup. On taking a split series back to Raleigh: Listen, like I said, we knew it was going to be hard. We didn't expect it to be anything but like this. Can we be better? Yeah. That's the good news. That we know we have to better if we're going to win or want to win. They said the same thing the other night. This is not surprising. It's tight, tight, tight and you have to just regroup. On Jack Roslovic: I thought he was fine. [Mark Jankowski] couldn't go and so Rosy jumped in and he was good. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SEAN WALKER On the first goal against: Obviously it was unfortunate. Just trying to get the puck in their end and then it hits Shayne [Gostisbehere] in the neck, kinds of stuns him there for a sec and then they get a fast break and score. It's part of it. Just move on. On taking away some positives from the game: I think the positives we can take away is that when we're playing our game, I think we really controlled the momentum of the game and had a lot more time in their zone and created a lot more, for sure. We'll look at it tomorrow, but I think we know we got away from our game there a little bit and they capitalized and took away from our momentum. We'll look at it and move on. On if the team was prepared for Washington's push tonight: Yeah. Obviously they had a great regular season for a reason. They're a great team, know how to play and do it the right way. I would say we just got away from our game more so. When we did it right, you could see we were in their zone a lot more. So that'll be the mindset going forward. On splitting the series heading back home: Obviously it's great to come in here and get a win, but I think at the end of the day, we kind of feel like we definitely could have put a better effort forward tonight and maybe gave ourselves a better chance of winning this game. On the matchup game: I think the matchups, obviously home ice is important to get the matchups we want. I think it's something that can definitely sway a series. I think everyone's playing pretty good right now, so if you don't get them, you don't get them, but that's definitely something with going home that we'll be looking forward to. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JORDAN STAAL On the game: I thought our first was good and then the second period was just no good. Even the first half of our third was not great. We were playing in our end a little too much and just turning over one too many pucks and not really getting through the neutral zone and getting on them and all the stuff that we do. Took a penalty, and obviously the PK would love to have the kill. Obviously our 5v5 game wasn't great and it kind of trended toward them getting an extra goal. On if the penalties took away their 5v5 flow: I don't think so. There was a little bit of that, but I think there were just a few penalties here and there. On the first goal against: That's not ideal obviously. Take one to the face and they go for a breakaway. That stuff happens. We're trying to get it on them too, trying to do the right things and it kind of went the wrong way, but I think that first period, we needed to keep at it, but we lost what we like to do and tried to force plays. We didn't really wear them down and like I said, they got some momentum and some offense and they started playing their game and we got on our heels a little bit. On taking a 1-1 series split home: Always nice to be in front of our fans and we're going to have to take that momentum back and use our fans to do it. We'd love to be up two, but it's a good team and we're going to have to start fresh at home here and take it to them again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/latest-news/carolina-hurricanes-2025-stanley-cup-playoffs-hub] for all postseason stories! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwmeDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to never miss a story.
