Rod Brind’Amour went so far as to describe it as “disgusting.” The Hurricanes played the first period like a fire drill, without much structure or puck management, and in so doing found themselves in a 3-0 hole to the Washington Capitals through two periods in DC on Saturday night. Their game began to come around by the third period but by that time it was too late and they fell 3-2 for their first loss of the preseason (and first regulation preseason loss in Brind’Amour’s head coaching career).
Brian Pinho scored twice, intercepting a Fredrick Claesson pass to give the Capitals a 2-0 lead, then with a knuckleball that ricocheted off Jake Bean’s stick and glove during a second period power play for what would stand as the eventual game-winner.