The Washington Capitals got off to the start they wanted in Game 3 at Lenovo Center. They were hard on pucks, generating high-quality chances and holding the Carolina Hurricanes at bay.

Then, they stepped off the gas.

A lack of discipline and consistency, accompanied by some costly blunders and poor reads, led to an ugly 4-0 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 3.

Here are the takeaways as Washington trails the series 2-1.

Capitals Can't Sustain Strong Start

For the first time this series, the Capitals dominated the first period, generating high-quality looks and holding off Carolina's high-octane offense. Alex Ovechkin and company generated a number of chances on Frederik Andersen, who was sharp all night long, as D.C. had the opportunity to capitalize on a slower start from the Hurricanes.

However, that chance dwindled, and though Washington outshot Carolina 9-6 in the opening 20, it couldn't sustain that pressure, and in turn, Carolina tilted the ice.

Shots in the second and third were few and far between for the Capitals, who couldn't get any clean entries or plays set up as Carolina took control of the game.

From there, things fell apart quickly.

Mistakes Prove Costly For Capitals

Washington found itself in trouble in the middle frame, as the Hurricanes took it to the Capitals and bogged them down in their own zone. Then, off an offensive zone draw, Andrei Svechnikov caught John Carlson off guard, beating him to the puck off Sebastian Aho's win and beating Logan Thompson to make it 1-0.

Minutes later, with D.C. trying to recover, Alex Alexeyev took an undisciplined hooking penalty, and Carolina would make Washington pay, as Jack Roslovic beat Thompson shortside on a shot that the goaltender misread and certainly wants back.

The Capitals got the chance to take some momentum back with a late power play that trickled over into the start of the third period, but the team couldn't get anything going, and shortly after the PP expired, Eric Robinson got around Carlson and beat Thompson, who was being forced to his backdoor with Logan Stankoven left alone wide open at the backdoor.

Overall, the team's play just dropped off completely after the start, and the Hurricanes were surging, with D.C. unable to do much but watch and try to survive.

Special Teams A Glaring Issue, Capitals Can't Get Much Going

As important as play is at 5-on-5 between these two clubs, special teams are just as imperative, and Washington came up short in both departments on Saturday.

The Capitals got two critical power plays and couldn't get set up or generate much at the net, while giving up a couple of shorthanded rushes, too.

Beyond that, Washington lacked any serious momentum and jam up front, and the gusto the team had coming out of the gate to open action evaporated quickly.

On the opposite side of things, the Capitals gave up two power-play goals, and the penalty kill just wasn't sharp. It also wasn't Thompson's best night, and to make matters worse, D.C. didn't get any bounces to go its way.