For part of Monday night, the Washington Capitals stunk. For other parts, they tried desperately to remain with the Carolina Hurricanes — and just about did. But think about that for a second. It feels as if the Capitals are merely trying to hold on to this second-round Stanley Cup playoff series with the tips of their fingernails as the Hurricanes rip it away from them.

The Hurricanes will go to Washington for Game 5 on Thursday with a chance to close out the second-round Stanley Cup playoff series, but expect to see Capitals’ best.

The Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes were doing their jobs. They were feeling each other out. “This is the way things go once we get into mid-May” is where I landed. Not everything is going to be Game 7 between the Stars and Avalanche.