Capitals look like themselves in beating ’Canes in Game 2

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Capitals center Connor McMichael (24) celebrates his goal in the second period of Game 2 of a second-round playoff series against the Hurricanes on Thursday in Washington. NICK WASS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) lines up during the second half of a Jan. 5 game against the Falcons. Clowney on Thursday was released by the Panthers. DANNY KARNIK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, FILE

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WASHINGTON >> Connor McMichael and John Carlson scored, Logan Thompson made 26 saves and the Washington Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 in Game 2 on Thursday night to tie the second-round playoff series.

After a slow first period, the Eastern Conference regular-season champion Capitals started to look more like themselves as the game wore on, dictating their style and not getting hemmed in their end for long stretches. That was essential after they were they were thoroughly outplayed in the series opener, an overtime loss.

Game 3 is Saturday in Raleigh, N.C. The Hurricanes won all three of their home games in the first round against New Jersey and 31 of 41 during the regular season.

Quenneville hired by Anaheim Ducks >> Joel Quenneville is returning to the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks for his first head coaching job since the second-winningest coach in league history resigned and was banned for his handling of a sexual assault scandal.

The 66-year-old Quenneville was hired by Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek for his first coaching job since his resignation from the Florida Panthers 3 1/2 years ago in the wake of his handling of the sexual assault scandal during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Verbeek called the move “a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender” and said the team had done its due diligence.

Baseball

Last-place Pirates fire manager Shelton >> The Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton following a rocky opening month to the season that saw Pittsburgh quickly slip into last place in the NL Central.

General manager Ben Cherington made the announcement. Bench coach Don Kelly will take over for Shelton, who is the first manager fired across Major League Baseball this season.

The decision comes with Pittsburgh riding a seven-game losing streak that saw its record fall to 12-26. Shelton, hired by Cherington in November 2019 as part of a franchise-wide reset by owner Bob Nutting, went 306-440 in five-plus seasons with the Pirates.

FORMER TIGERS OF Lemon dies at 70 >> Chet Lemon, a three-time All-Star outfielder who helped the Detroit Tigers win the 1984 World Series, has died after a lengthy battle with blood cancer. He was 70.

Lemon batted .273 with 215 homers and 884 RBIs over 16 seasons with Chicago and Detroit from 1975 to 1990.

Golf

Mitchell leads at Truist Championship >> Keith Mitchell led a birdie spree at the Truist Championship, shooting a career-best 9-under 61 to shatter the course record at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.

The previous Wissahickon Course record of 65 was shared by Colin St. Maxen, Zac Blair and Angus Flanagan. Mitchell was bogey-free and had an outside chance at 59 on his second shot from 102 yards on the ninth hole, his 18th. He hit his approach to just over 9 feet and settled for a closing par and a one-shot lead over Denny McCarthy. Colin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Sepp Straka and Akshay Bhatia shot 63.

Rory McIlroy, making his first individual start since completing the career grand slam at the Masters, had a 66.

Pro football

Panthers release veteran Clowney >> The Carolina Panthers have released veteran Jadeveon Clowney after selecting two edge rushers in the NFL draft.

Clowney, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, had 5 1/2 sacks last season for the Panthers.

He had one year left on his contract.

The Panthers drafted Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton in the second round and Mississippi’s Princely Umanmielen in the third round in the NFL draft with an eye towards getting younger at the position.

Olympics

Bird to be first managing director of USA Basketball women’s national team >> Sue Bird is giving another assist to USA Basketball, becoming the managing director of the women’s national team.

The five-time Olympic champion was named to the newly created position and it marks a major change in the way the organization creates its roster and coaching staff.

Before the change, a committee made those decisions, but now in a move similar to what the USA men’s national team does, Bird will be the one responsible for putting things together. Grant Hill has the same role on the men’s side.