On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Carolina Hurricanes hold a 1-0 series lead over the Washington Capitals in their second-round series. The Canes' overtime victory shocked the Metropolitan Division champions, and now the Caps seek revenge in Game 2.
The Hurricanes established a strong plan for attacking the Capitals in Game 1 and aim to continue pushing them in Game 2. Carolina excelled at getting shots on net, pushing the pace, and keeping the Capitals' potent power play off the scoresheet.
The success of the Hurricanes' penalty kill is becoming a dominating factor in the postseason. Through six games in the first two rounds, the Canes have yet to allow a power play goal. Their 100% success rate while a man down is impressive enough, but it's the way they are doing it that is even more impressive.
The best word to describe the Hurricanes' penalty killing approach is aggressive. They are excellent at creating pressure, leaving the puck carrier with very little time and space to create anything. For the New Jersey Devils, the team the Hurricanes eliminated in Round One, the Canes' relentless penalty kill was a leading factor in their series win. The Devils' Head Coach Sheldon Keefe commented on the Hurricanes' PK abilities following an early series loss that feels relevant.
"They create pressure, have good sticks, length ... so many of the penalty killers here have been working together as a unit for I don't know how many years now," he said. "They have a great scheme and they execute very well. They have defensive habits and instincts."
The Capitals learned that lesson first-hand in Game 1. Now, they must try to counter it with the man advantage. If they can, Washington could win the special-teams battle and put a dent in the armor of the Hurricanes' penalty-killing unit. Otherwise, the perfect PK group in Carolina will lead the Hurricanes to a commanding 2-0 series lead.
More must-reads:
- Concerning report emerges about Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin's health
- Eli Manning wouldn't help Giants QB Jaxson Dart with an unexpected request
- The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Oilers announce target return date for top winger
Top Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman will need just a bit longer to recover from the wrist fracture he suffered in the 2025 Western Conference Finals. In speaking with reporters ahead of training camp on Thursday, head coach Kris Knoblauch shared that Hyman’s goal will be to return by Nov. 1, per TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. That will set Hyman up to miss the first 12 games of the Oilers’ season. The high-scoring winger spoke more in-depth about his injury during an extended press conference on Thursday morning. An extended absence is no way to start a season, especially for Hyman, who hasn’t played fewer than 73 games in a single season in any of his four years with the Oilers. He has been a pillar of lineup consistency and averaged over 19:30 in ice time through 308 games with the Oilers. He’s averaged a lofty 38 goals per 82 games played with Edmonton, leaving the Oilers with a major hole to fill right out of the gate. Who will step up will become the question to be answered at training camp. Top Oilers prospects Matthew Savoie and Ike Howard seem poised to break camp with the team, but their readiness to fill a top-line role has yet to be proven. Superstar centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl could mitigate those concerns — and give the reigning Hobey Baker Award-winner, Howard and the second-highest Bakersfield Condors scorer, Savoie, a chance to show their full potential. If not one of their top prospects, Edmonton could also turn towards the veteran presence of a player like Andrew Mangiapane. Mangiapane is in his first season with the Oilers after spending last year racking up 28 points in 81 games with the Washington Capitals. He brings 498 games and 243 points worth of NHL experience, though he has never filled a consistent top-line role.
Clayton Kershaw announces big news about his career
After a legendary run with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw is calling it a career. The Dodgers announced Thursday that Kershaw will retire at the end of the current season. He will make his final regular season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday. Kershaw’s announcement does not necessarily come as a huge surprise. The 37-year-old has essentially handled his future on a year-to-year basis for the past several seasons, but had made it pretty clear he would not play for any franchise other than the Dodgers. An 11-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP, Kershaw is a sure-fire Hall of Famer once he becomes eligible in six years. He has a career record of 222-96 and a lifetime regular season ERA of 2.54. He notoriously struggled at times in the playoffs, but contributed to World Series winners in 2020 and 2024. Despite his age and health concerns, Kershaw managed to be a major contributor to the Dodgers in 2025. He enters his next start Friday with an ERA of 3.53 in 20 starts, and he also notched his 3,000th career strikeout earlier this season. The Dodgers are heading to the playoffs, so Friday will not necessarily mark Kershaw’s final career appearance at Dodger Stadium. The team’s postseason run might well be an emotional one as the team will want to try to send him out a winner.
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Brock Purdy missed the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints with a toe and left shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1. At the time, there was a chance that the injury could keep the quarterback out multiple weeks, but now head coach Kyle Shanahan has provided what seems to be a positive update for this weekend's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Kyle Shanahan provides key update on Brock Purdy "He wasn't limited last week," Shanahan said. "He does have a chance [to play]," Shanahan said on Wednesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. According to Wagoner's reporting, of the two injuries, the toe issue seems to be more significant, and it was considered the main reason Purdy didn't play in Week 2. It's similar to turf toe. He was in the 49ers' locker room after that game, though, and he told reporters that his status for the Week 3 game was, "we'll see." Connect those dots and it sounds like, at the very least, Purdy feels hopeful about his chances. If he's not fully back and able to go, he could also at least suit up and act as a backup for Mac Jones. San Francisco 49ers confident in Brock Purdy's backup If Purdy is out for the second straight week, Jones proved against the Saints that he can lead this team to a victory. The former first-round pick of the New England Patriots completed 26 of 39 passes against New Orleans for 279 yards and three touchdowns. On Monday, running back Christian McCaffrey was among the players in the locker room who expressed confidence in Jones. "In this league, whether or not you're a starter or a backup, you got to be ready to go at any point," McCaffrey said, per Wagoner. "In the NFL, you just never know. It's such a talented league and so many great players on the field. And Mac obviously is somebody who's proven himself already, but to have him as our backup is huge." Out of Alabama, Jones was selected with pick No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft as the "heir apparent" to Tom Brady in the final years of the Bill Belichick era in New England. He flashed talent but was never able to be consistent. He also had incredibly big shoes to fill, so a case could be made that he was doomed to fail from the very start of his NFL career. Jones started 42 games for the Patriots over three seasons, and he threw for 8,918 yards and 46 touchdowns compared to 36 interceptions. He's on a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the 49ers after spending the 2024 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Dallas Cowboys Linked to Strange Trade Before Week 3 NFL Action
Heading into Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys hold a 1-1 record. Jerry Jones has to be happy with his team’s bounce-back win against the New York Giants last week, but there are some clear issues the team could look at fixing. While there are a few issues on the roster that could use some work, there are also some areas that have been a major positive. One of those areas comes at the running back position. Javonte Williams has looked the part of a starting NFL running back through two weeks, running for 151 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries for an average of 4.6 yards per attempt. Miles Sanders has also carried the football nine times for 68 yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.6 yards per carry. Both players have handled their roles well. However, a new strange trade idea has been suggested for the Cowboys that would see them pursue another running back addition. Dallas Cowboys Linked to Strange Trade Before Week 3 NFL Action Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has named Dallas as one of the possible trade destinations for Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford. Ford is a quality player and could be a nice dual-threat running back for a team. But, the Cowboys simply do not need help at the running back position. Jones and company would be better served focusing on the defensive side of the ball. Ford would come in as the No. 3 running back on the roster and simply would not provide a ton of value for the Dallas offense. Even though Knox believes a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick could be the asking price, it just doesn’t make sense. Coming into the season, there were questions about the running game. Those questions have been answered so far. It will be interesting to see how both Williams and Sanders perform as the season moves forward. Perhaps the Cowboys could consider bringing him in for quality depth in case of an injury or one of the two backs falling off later in the year. All of that being said, this isn’t a trade idea that seems very likely. Dallas has to be happy with what it has seen from its two running backs through two weeks. Making a move to bring in a third back doesn’t seem to be a pressing need at this point in time.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
