The Washington Capitals dropped their third straight game on Tuesday, falling in overtime 4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was the third straight loss at home and the third straight time the Canes have beaten the Caps this season, splitting the season series.
Brandon Sutter gave the Canes a 3-2 lead less than two minutes into the final period. It looked like Carolina would hold on for the one-goal regulation win but a late Brooks Laich goal evened it up with under three minutes to play in regulation. It was an excellent effort by Laich, who started the rush and put a shimmy move on Chris LaRose to enter the zone. Laich then played give-and-go with Marcus Johansson, who put a perfect pass on Laich's stick as he went to the front of the net to deflect the puck past Cam Ward to tie it up.
But Washington could not capitalize on the momentum, as the Canes won it in overtime with just over a minute remaining in the extra session. The Caps made a big mistake entering the zone, as Dennis Wideman coughed it up at the blue line and Sutter immediately grabbed the loose puck and burst down the ice the other way. He went down the right wing while young defenseman Justin Faulk came streaking down the middle of the ice to fill the lane and take a perfect pass from Sutter. Faulk easily buried the game-winner, beating a helpless Michal Neuvirth.
The Caps put a whopping 49 shots-on-goal but could not convert against Ward. The homestand continues on Thursday night, when they host another division foe in the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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