More on Kuznetsov's penalty and the fallout, the Capitals' offensive woes and other postgame thoughts.
WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals didn't really feel like they were ever in it against the Carolina Hurricanes despite holding a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. After a first period where they did everything right, things started to slip as Carolina started to turn the tide in the second. Then, back-to-back slashes happened, and the wheels fell off completely.
After tying the game on a strange goal from Seth Jarvis that Darcy Kuemper had thought he had covered in the third, Carolina piled on four more goals in the final seven minutes of regulation for a dominant win.
All the while, the air was sucked out of D.C., who was left with a lot to reflect on after the game.
We took to X to discuss how things played out, and in a new "Morning After Forum," we'll address some of the fans' thoughts, takes and questions from the game.
What will be the fallout for Kuznetsov following that penalty and loss? - @gjackson2019 and others
The Evgeny Kuznetsov slashing penalty was not pretty. It was taken at a bad time and an unnecessary shot at Michael Bunting, who was going to celebrate Andrei Svechnikov's goal. That nick on Bunting put him in the box for two minutes, restarting the successful power play for the Hurricanes.
It's not the first time a player has let his emotions get the better of him and cost his team with a penalty, but for Kuznetsov, it is a lesson that needs to be learned. That conduct at that time, especially with 7:19 minutes left in regulation and your team still in it, can't fly, because then it just takes all the wind out of the sails.
As for what the fallout will be, I personally wouldn't be surprised to see Kuznetsov get a talking to or even a healthy scratch. It was a play that proved costly for his group, and though he was out there with hopes of tying things up, he didn't play much after it.
Spencer Carbery did call that penalty irrelevant, though, because he didn't think his team had much of a chance with the way it had been playing up to that point, and he doesn't think his team should have let that situation play out, anyway.
We'll have to see.
Let's talk about Kuemper - @TammyMcDee and others
It was a rough end to the third period for Kuemper, there's no doubt about that. But this game doesn't fall on No. 35.
The Hurricanes did a good job of tilting the ice in their favor, and while the Jarvis goal is probably one he wants back, the defense in front of him was nothing to be desired. Not only that, but when you're put in back-to-back scenarios of two-minute power-plays, and your penalty kill isn't sharp in front of you (not to mention, the two guys in the box are two of your PK guys), it's not going to be a pretty result.
Not only that, but he actually stopped six of the eight high-danger chances against him, so he did step up with some key saves in critical moments when the team needed him. That said, four goals on 15 shots in the third is ugly, but it falls more on the defense than just on the netminder.
Then, there's the lack of scoring to compensate. Carolina doubled up on Washington in shots shots, outshooting the team 34-17, over the course of the game. And even if you have a Vezina winner in net, you're not winning a hockey game where you have 17 shots through 60 minutes while giving up twice that many.
What do the Capitals do about the lack of offense? @scottbour_scott and others
This brings us to the lack of offense. This is the heat map from the game courtesy of NaturalStatTrick, and it's far from impressive.
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Heat map of unblocked offensive zone shots at 5-on-5. NaturalStatTrick.Chances for the Capital were abysmal, as the team failed to really get a lot of high-quality opportunities going. Max Pacioretty did have some strong opportunities as he managed three shots, but other than that, passes weren't connecting, the extra "killer instinct" that John Carlson described was absent and Washington couldn't really generate a lot for Pyotr Kochetkov.
On the bright side, the power play has goals in three straight outings, but at 5-on-5, there's a lot that needs to be addressed. At the end of the day, it's a matter of finding chemistry and the right combos, so expect some continued experimentation up front.
Who are the Capitals really missing right now? @alexervin928
This was a great question, and I think of two obvious names: T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom.
While their injuries didn't positively contribute to their on-ice play, their leadership, voices and mere presence are missed greatly in the room. Having a high-energy guy like Oshie takes the ice and sets a good example, and Backstrom's leadership in vision is also a necessary part of the game.
Washington is certainly feeling the effects of having two notable leaders missing from the group, and it shows. Oshie also had points in back-to-back games and provided a different look on the wing before his injury, so it's tough to have him out of the mix as the team goes through a revolving door to find a replacement at 3RW.
Oshie recently left the team to go back home to Minnesota for treatment for an upper-body injury, so he doesn't appear close to a return. Backstrom is unlikely to play again this season and has decisions to make regarding his career with his hip not responding as he'd hoped following hip resurfacing surgery in June 2022.
Washington was also missing Rasmus Sandin due to illness, and he was very much missed.