Game 5 or Go Home - Capitals must fix offense fast to survive against Hurricanes in second round

The Washington Capitals are on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-1 in their series against the Carolina Hurricanes after a tough Game 4 loss. With Game 5 looming, the biggest threat to their playoff hopes isn’t the Hurricanes, it’s their own struggles. If Washington can’t turn things around fast, their season will end in disappointment.How does a team with Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, and a deep forward core go four games without scoring a single high-danger goal? That’s not a cold streak, it’s a full-blown identity crisis.Washington has gone 0-for-24 on high-danger shots. Meanwhile, Carolina has buried four of theirs. The difference? One team is crashing the net, creating traffic, and finishing. The other is hoping something pretty happens. And while Frederik Andersen deserves credit for standing tall in net, the Caps are making his life way too easy.The numbers tell the story loud and clear: Carolina is dominating possession, outshooting Washington 126 to 77, and blocking shots like it’s a clinic. This isn’t just good defense, it’s smarter and hungrier hockey.Washington, on the other hand, looks stuck in second gear. Too many passes. Too many blocked shots. Too much hesitation. You can see it, players second-guessing whether to shoot, looking for the perfect setup instead of letting it rip.Even Coach Spencer Carbery admitted it: “Shoot the puck” is the phrase echoing through his mind. And he’s not wrong.Alex Ovechkin says the team needs “dirty goals.” He’s right. This isn’t the time for finesse. It’s the time for rebounds, redirections, and sheer willpower. The Capitals have been here before. They’ve been counted out. But if they want to keep this run alive, they need all four lines pushing, hitting, grinding and finally finishing.Also Read: Canada's rising star Adam Fantilli ready to make his mark at the 2025 IIHF World ChampionshipThursday night isn’t just another game. It’s the season on the line. And if they don’t show up ready to fight tooth and nail, this series won’t be remembered for Andersen’s heroics, it’ll be remembered as the moment Washington folded.