Thompson, Capitals hold off Hurricanes in Game 2, even Eastern 2nd Round 

WASHINGTON -- Logan Thompson made 27 saves, including 16 in the third period, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

“He’s our wall back there,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said of Thompson. “He’s calm. He just keeps us in every single game. It’s nice having a goalie that’s going to give it his all. He’s been our MVP all year and he’s playing great.”

Wilson had a goal and an assist, and Connor McMichael and John Carlson also scored for the Capitals, who are the No. 1 seed from the East and evened the best-of-7 series after a 2-1 overtime loss in Game 1.

“It was much better. There's no doubt about that,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “I still think we have another level to get to. We're going to need to get to that level, especially going down into their building. I do think that. I think the way that we played, some adjustments we made, I feel like we're getting there. Guys can feel it. We're getting a little more confident.”

Shayne Gostisbehere scored for the Hurricanes, who are the No. 2 seed from the Metropolitan Division. Frederik Andersen made 18 saves.

“We weren't certainly great, that's for sure,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “And you've got to give Washington credit. They played a much better game. … We have to be better, that's for sure. We knew it was going to be hard. Having said that, we were still right in the game.”

Game 3 will be in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Saturday (6 p.m. ET; MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS).

Washington blocked 33 shots, and Wilson was credited with two of them, including one that prevented a goal on a shot by Jordan Staal late in the first period.

“He does it all,” Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime said of Wilson. “He’s the heart of the team. He drives the bus every night for us. He’s physical. He dominates pucks and he scores big goals, makes big plays for us.”

McMichael gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 2:16 of the second period. An attempted dump-in by Carolina defenseman Sean Walker hit Gostisbehere in the neck, and McMichael got the loose puck, skated in alone and scored on a wrist shot into the top right corner.

“Obviously, it’s unfortunate,” Walker said. “Just trying to get the puck in there. Hit Shayne in the neck. Kind of stuns him there for a second then they get a fast break and they score. It’s part of it. Just move on.”

Carlson increased the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 1:54 of the third period when he scored on a one-timer from the left circle off a pass across the slot from Wilson.

Carolina was 19-for-19 on the penalty kill in the playoffs before Carlson’s goal.

“I thought our first was good, and the second period was no good. Even the first half of the third was not great,” Staal said. “We were playing in our end a little bit too much, just kind of turning over one too many pucks and not really kind of getting into the neutral zone, getting on them and all the stuff we do.”

Gostisbehere’s power-play goal pulled the Hurricanes to within 2-1 at 9:26. Seth Jarvis’ shot was blocked by Carlson and the puck slid across the slot to Gostisbehere, who scored on a one-timer from the right circle.

Wilson scored into an empty net off a pass from Aliaksei Protas with 1:00 remaining for the 3-1 final.

"I thought he was leading the charge tonight,” Carbery said of Wilson. “Even before the play he makes on the power play and on the empty netter, I just thought he was really engaged.”

NOTES: Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren was a late scratch because of a personal matter. Mitchell Gibson backed up Thompson. … Carlson scored his 13th career power-play goal in the playoffs, tying Peter Bondra for the third-most in franchise history, behind Alex Ovechkin (30) and T.J. Oshie (17). … Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho had an assist on Gostisbehere’s goal. It was his 21st career power-play point in the playoffs, passing Brind'Amour and Eric Staal (both with 20) for the most in franchise history.