Carolina @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 11, 2019 ) Carolina 2, Washington 4

The Carolina Hurricanes took the fight to the reigning Stanley Cup champions in their series opener, only to see the Washington Capitals record the knockout blow due in large part to their special teams play. The Hurricanes aim to pick themselves off the mat on Saturday afternoon when they play Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series in Washington.

Nicklas Backstrom scored one of his team's two power-play goals and tallied again in the first period on Thursday as the Capitals built a 3-0 lead before holding on for a 4-2 victory. "We got a good start there. We got some energy off our (three) goals in the first, but overall I think we got fortunate a little bit," said the 31-year-old Swede, who has 100 career points in the playoffs. "... I think as a team we can play a little bit better. We got lucky there." Rookie Andrei Svechnikov tallied twice in the third period, but Carolina failed to convert on all three power-play opportunities -- including a pair in the final eight minutes of the game. "Our special teams in general has to be better. Both PK and power play weren't good enough," Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal said. "Special teams have to be better if we're going to win some games."

TV: 3 p.m. ET, NBC, Sportsnet, TVAS

ABOUT THE HURRICANES: Carolina's success on the power play has seen more twists and turns than most murder-mystery novels, with the club failing to score with the man advantage during a nine-game stretch only to convert in each of the final four contests of the season. Lucas Wallmark set up both of the 19-year-old Svechnikov's goals in the third period to give him three points in his last two games after being held off the scoresheet in each of his previous seven. "We've been playing with each other a lot this season," the 23-year-old Swede said. "We know each other out there and we like to play with each other. He's a great player."

ABOUT THE CAPITALS: Defenseman John Carlson tied an NHL playoff record for most assists in a period with three, but it was his team's play at the other end of the ice that resonated with him the most. "Yeah, at the end, that was big, a lot of big-time blocks, big-time clears and guys paying the price, and that's what we're going to need," the 29-year-old Carlson said. "No team is going to just roll over no matter what the score in the playoffs." Captain Alex Ovechkin, who led the league with 51 goals in the regular season and had an NHL-best 15 in last year's playoff run, scored his 62nd in the postseason to move into a tie with Hall of Famer Bobby Hull for 27th place on the league's all-time list.

OVERTIME

1. Carolina C Sebastian Aho, who led the team with 30 goals, has been held without a tally in 15 straight games.

2. Capitals G Braden Holtby has turned aside 171 of 181 shots in his last six contests (6-0-0), with three of those wins coming against the Hurricanes.

3. Carolina D Calvin de Haan practiced with his teammates on Friday as he attempts to work his way back from an upper-body injury that has sidelined him since March 31.

PREDICTION: Hurricanes 3, Capitals 2