WASHINGTON — There was no question heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs that the Carolina Hurricanes were in for a bit of a learning curve as they entered their first playoff series in a decade, and the first-ever trip to the NHL’s second season for the majority of their roster. Thursday night at Capital One Arena, they found out just how steep that curve is.
Playoff hockey often means games played at different speeds, with different levels of physicality and much less of a margin for error. The Canes found that out early and often in their 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 1, failing to capitalize on a multitude of early chances that could have tilted the ice in their favor.