The Carolina Hurricanes remain on track for an Eastern Conference playoff berth, but their margin for error shrank considerably on Tuesday night. A 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in the opening game of a home-and-home series, combined with results elsewhere, kept the Canes in the first wild card spot by a single point, and piles on the pressure for Thursday’s return engagement in Raleigh.
Carolina carried the play early, piling up the shots on Braden Holtby through the first ten minutes. But the momentum was quashed when Sebastian Aho was sent to the penalty box for a questionable hooking penalty.