TEAM EDITORIAL

The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes have opened the 2026-27 regular season without a win, sitting at 0-1-1 with one point after two games. Their start has been defined by defensive lapses, limited offensive rhythm and an inability to establish momentum early. Carolina began with a narrow 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers, a game in which the Hurricanes managed only 15 shots and went nearly 102 minutes of game time before scoring their first goal of the season.

That drought ended Friday, but the result was another defeat. The Washington Capitals scored three times in the opening 15 minutes and controlled the game from there, beating Carolina 5-2. Sebastian Aho and Logan Stankoven supplied the Hurricanes’ goals, while Carolina more than doubled its shot total from the opener to 33. The improvement in puck volume did not offset a damaging start, however, as the team repeatedly gave Washington clean opportunities and struggled to recover from an early four-goal deficit.

The opening results have placed pressure on Carolina to find cohesion quickly. The roster retains major offensive pieces in Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Taylor Hall and Nikolaj Ehlers, while Jaccob Slavin anchors a defense that must tighten its coverage. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour has emphasized collective responsibility rather than relying on one player to reverse the trend. Carolina’s immediate test is its only scheduled game today: a road matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers on October 3.