The Carolina Hurricanes finally got on the board Friday night, but the rest of the evening belonged to the Washington Capitals.
At Lenovo Center, Carolina’s home opener for a Friday night in Raleighwood turned into a 5-2 loss, with the Capitals striking early, piling up a 4-0 lead and never really letting the Canes settle in. The Hurricanes had opened the season with a 1-0 loss to the Florida Panthers, then banked a point in an overtime defeat. Against Washington, they found a little offense but couldn’t match the pace at the other end.
Carolina stuck with the same lineup it used in the opener. The forward groups and defense pairs stayed intact, and Brandon Bussi got the start again after his strong 19-for-20 effort on Tuesday. Across the ice, Logan Thompson started for Washington, which also rolled in with the league’s biggest lineup and captain Alex Ovechkin leading the way.
The Capitals wasted no time making their size and speed count. Alex Tuch opened the scoring in his Washington debut after Bussi’s play behind the net went wrong, leaving a vacant cage. Cole Hutson added another five minutes later on a delayed penalty, then Tuch struck again late in the period to send Washington into the first intermission with a 3-0 cushion.
The second period brought Carolina’s first real push. The Hurricanes moved the puck well and drew power plays, and Sebastian Aho finally broke the shutout late in the frame on the man advantage. The crowd had barely come alive when Ryan Leonard answered eight seconds later to swing the momentum right back.
Carolina kept pressing on the power play to start the third, but Thompson held firm. Logan Stankoven eventually got one through with a tip, and K’Andre Miller’s point shot slipped under Thompson’s glove. Even so, the Canes never got closer than three goals, and Washington closed out the 5-2 win.
For Bussi, it was a sharp contrast from his first outing. On Tuesday, he was Carolina’s best player against Florida.
Friday was a far rougher night. The trouble started with the play behind his net, where he didn’t show much urgency and Pierre-Luc Dubois pressured the puck loose, setting up Tuch’s first goal.
From there, things never really stabilized. Cole Hutson’s goal was one he could have stopped, Tuch’s second slid through his pads, and Washington’s power-play tally came from distance.
It was a difficult night all around for the Hurricanes’ goalie.
The problems weren’t limited to the crease. Carolina’s defense gave up too many odd-man rushes, and while not all of them ended in goals, the breakdowns were there.
The group looked sharp Tuesday. On Friday, it looked scattered.
One area that did show some life was the power play. After going 0-for-6 in the opener, the Hurricanes had six more opportunities against Washington and generated 15 shots with the man advantage.
That finally produced their first goal of the season, with Aho cashing in. It also helped create looks for the rest of the group, including a dangerous night from Andrei Svechnikov, who picked up an assist on Aho’s goal and fired six shots.
Jordan Martinook was active, and Jordan Staal had chances as well.
Still, the early results leave Carolina with one point from two home games. That’s not the start they wanted, but it’s also far too soon to treat it like a verdict.
The season is only two games old, and the Hurricanes still have 82 to play. The next one comes quickly: a trip to Philadelphia on Saturday.
Both teams are still looking for their first win, and the Flyers will be waiting in the City of Brotherly Love with plenty of edge.
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