However, just 4:02 later, Washington would begin a trend of having quick answers to Carolina's goals. T.J. Oshie put home a feed from Joe Snively inside the final minute of the frame to close out the first at a score of 1-1.
When the second period got going, the late-first uptick in scoring came along with. After Stefan Noesen aided Paul Stastny in winning an offensive zone draw, a Calvin de Haan shot from the point then hit Stastny in front and bounced by Darcy Kuemper to put the Canes in front again.
But once more, the lead didn't last long.
Just 3:50 after Stastny's sixth of the season, Snively then beat Frederik Andersen on the rush to pull the game back even.
The back and forth would continue for a third goal of the period, although this time Carolina was able to buck the trend of allowing a quick response. On the power play after a slashing call to Conor Sheary, Stefan Noesen was able to redirect home a Brady Skjei shot from the point to put the Canes in the lead once again.
#23's tally was his team-leading seventh of the season on the man advantage.
Thanks to some timely stops from Andersen and two successful penalty kills of their own in the final 5:44 of the second period, the visitors were able to take their 3-2 score back into the locker room at the end of 40 minutes.
In the third, Washington thought they were able to tie the contest, this time via former Hurricane Trevor van Riemsdyk. However, a successful challenge by Rod Brind'Amour, Chris Huffine, Mike Brown, and the Canes coaching staff erased the would-be equalizer due to goaltender interference.
The Capitals would continue to push, but they were unable to get another by Andersen legally in the final 10:21, meaning the Canes were able to hold on and earn the win.
