Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Capitals' Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome Send Strong Message on Offense

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Levine | Last updated May 13, 2025 6:26 PM ET

The Washington Capitals are now on the brink of elimination after dropping Game 4 of their second-round playoff series to the Carolina Hurricanes. Despite being the best team in the Eastern Conference this past season, the Capitals haven't been able to find any consistency on the offensive end of the ice.

Carolina's defense has made life very tough for the Capitals, and they have swarmed the puck when needed. But Washington has also missed some shots that they have normally hit, leading to the 3-1 series deficit.

One area that Washington has struggled heavily in is the power play. The Hurricanes have the best penalty kill, clocking in a 92.6 save percentage during the regular season, and it's made life tough on Washington.

Multiple members of the Capitals commented on the lack of offense in this series, as it has now become a source of frustration for this team.

"We don't score on the four-minute and they score at the end of it at the beginning of the second," Capitals forward Dylan Strome said. "That's a huge point of the game. We've got to figure out our power play."

The Capitals were able to get the game within one score, but each time they did so, the Hurricanes responded. Carolina matched everything that Washington threw at them, leading to another victory.

"When we get within a goal we've got to find a way to keep the momentum on our side, and we just didn't do that tonight," Washington forward Tom Wilson said.

Game 5 will see the series head back home for the Capitals, giving them some grace. But if they can't fix the offense, Washington could be on the verge of letting a special season end quicker than expected.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: