So, the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals has really been something else! Carolina’s got a solid 3-1 lead, and it looks like they’re putting Washington right on the edge of elimination. After a nail-biter against the Capitals in Game 1 that went to overtime, the Hurricanes bounced back from a loss in Game 2. They really turned things around with a solid shutout in Game 3 and then followed it up with a strong 5-2 win in Game 4. Frederik Andersen has been fantastic in goal, even pulling off a shutout, and Carolina’s strong offensive lineup has really taken it to the Capitals.

Washington, on the other hand, has had a tough time building any momentum. The Capitals are in a tough spot right now. Their power play isn’t working, and some of their star players aren’t playing at their best. They really need to win Game 5 to stay in the playoff race. An NHL insider highlighted the growing frustration within the franchise.

On the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned, “It’s a big hill to climb. You know, when you’re down 3-1, like sometimes you’re down 3-1, you’re like, ‘We’re right there. We’re doing a lot of the things that we do well, and it’s just not going our way.’ You know, [Spencer] Carbery, you can see the frustration on him. You can see the frustration on the Washington players.”

Playoff hockey isn’t a walk in the park. It’s tough when there’s that pressure of elimination, especially for a team like the Capitals that’s right on the edge. They definitely had an impressive regular season and a strong win against the Montreal Canadiens in Round 1, but things can change quickly in Game 5 coming up. Friedman points out that even though some teams down 3-1 might think they’re on the verge of a comeback, the Capitals are in a trickier spot. There’s clear frustration from both the players and the coaching staff, particularly when it comes to their struggling power play.

“The fact their power play is being throttled, it creates doubt on them. And I’m not saying it’s impossible. I will never say it’s impossible. We’ve seen too many weird things happen in these playoffs and overall. But when you’re not being allowed to do the things you do well or the things you do well aren’t working for you, it’s harder. And that’s the challenge that the Capitals face right now,” the NHL insider mentioned.

Not seeing success in important areas can really shake your confidence and lead to some doubt, which makes bouncing back tougher. Friedman points out that comebacks can happen, but the Capitals have some big hurdles to jump over. They really need to get their confidence back and improve their gameplay if they want to shift the momentum of the series. What’s the Caps coach saying about how the team has been performing?

Spencer Carbery gets honest about the Washington Capitals’ performance

After the Washington Capitals fell 5–2 to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, head coach Spencer Carbery didn’t hold back on his disappointment with the team’s performance, especially pointing out the struggles with the power play. He said, “I saw what everybody else in the room saw. It was not good. And so we made some adjustments, made some changes to personnel on it, but you can’t—their penalty kill is excellent, best in the league, has been for the last (five years), but it can’t look like that. It cannot look like that.”

Carbery also talked about how important it is for his top line, especially captain Alex Ovechkin, to create more scoring chances. He mentioned that when facing a team like Carolina, which is recognized for its solid gap control and defense, the Capitals’ forwards really have to put in the effort in the offensive zone on the forecheck, whether it’s creating something off a face-off play or whatever else they can come up with.

Even with the challenges they’ve faced, Carbery is keeping his eyes on the future. He knows things are tough right now, but he really believes in the power of resilience and hard work as the team deals with the possibility of elimination.