Andrei Svechnikov gave Carolina the kind of night that can carry a team through a long stretch, scoring twice and helping the Hurricanes erase an early deficit in a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
The victory was the Hurricanes’ sixth straight and came nearly two weeks after Washington beat them 5-2 in Raleigh. This time, Carolina got the last word. Even with Jordan Staal out because of a torn calf and Taylor Hall leaving later with an upper-body injury, the Hurricanes found enough firepower and plenty of resistance to push past the Capitals.
Pyotr Kochetkov was back in net for a second straight start after his strong outing in Philadelphia, while Logan Thompson handled the crease for Washington. The Capitals were also without Pierre-Luc Dubois and Matt Roy.
Carolina didn’t exactly come flying out of the gate. Washington spent long stretches with the puck in the offensive zone, and the Hurricanes had to work to settle in. A 4-on-4 stretch offered some relief, but the Capitals struck first when Booner Jenner slipped free at the side of the net and finished after a defensive lapse left him uncovered.
The end of the period got messy. Nicolas Deslauriers was called for roughing, then Andrei Svechnikov picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the bench, leaving Carolina shorthanded for a 5-on-3. Kochetkov bailed them out with a standout toe save, and the Hurricanes escaped to the intermission down just one.
Svechnikov flipped the game early in the second period. He drove a loose puck under Thompson’s pad to tie it, only for Justin Holl to answer with a shot through traffic and restore Washington’s lead. Carolina kept pressing, though, and late in the period Eric Robinson’s feed for Jackson Blake deflected off Martin Fehervary and into the net to make it 2-2.
The Hurricanes finally broke through on the power play in the third, and Svechnikov was at the center of it again. Left alone in front, he lifted a backhand past Thompson with a little more than six minutes to play.
From there, Carolina’s defense locked things down. Svechnikov won a race to keep the puck in and set up Mark Jankowski for an empty-net goal that sealed it.
Svechnikov’s three-point night powered the top line, which combined for six points. Sebastian Aho added two assists to run his point streak to seven games, and Carrier also picked up an assist.
The defense deserved plenty of credit too. Jaccob Slavin wiped out a Dylan Strome 2-on-1 by sliding over to take away the pass, then got back to the front of the net to erase another chance.
He finished with four blocks. Sean Walker chipped in five blocks and added his sixth assist of the season on Robinson’s goal.
Carolina’s sticks were active all night, and Washington had few clean looks once the Hurricanes settled in.
Kochetkov did his part as well, stopping 20 shots and looking calm under pressure. He even tried to follow in Igor Shesterkin’s footsteps with a shot at the empty net, though that part didn’t work out. The rest of his night sure did.
The win came with more injury trouble. Hall exited in the second period, and Rod Brind’Amour didn’t sound optimistic afterward. The coach said, "That doesn't look good either."
With Hall unavailable for much of the game, Robinson slid into his spot alongside Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven and later scored the tying goal. Carolina also recalled Bradly Nadeau, with Brind’Amour indicating a call-up was coming and that it didn’t have to be a center.
The Hurricanes now have three full days off before heading west for a five-game State Fair trip that starts Saturday afternoon in Winnipeg. They’ll play a back-to-back against Calgary on Sunday, then continue on to Vancouver, Edmonton, and St. Louis before returning to Raleigh in two weeks to face Boston.
In Other News...
Hurricanes Suddenly Have A Bigger Taylor Hall Concern
Taylor Halls night ended early against the Capitals, with the Hurricanes announcing he left during the second period because of an upper-body injury. It was a notable turn for a player who has settled into a prominent role on Carolinas top line this season, giving the club another layer of scoring and helping drive play early in the year.
Now the focus shifts to how long Hall might be out and what Carolina does if the absence stretches beyond one game. With the schedule moving quickly, the Hurricanes could be forced to look down the organizational depth chart, where prospects Bradly Nadeau and Felix Unger Sorum are among the names that would be in the conversation if the team needs another forward in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Capitals Just Ran Into A Carolina Team Finding Another Gear
The Hurricanes are starting to look like a team that has found its rhythm at exactly the right time. Carolinas 4-2 win over Washington was its sixth straight, with Andrei Svechnikov leading the way with two goals and an assist and Sebastian Aho setting the table with a pair of helpers. Pyotr Kochetkov kept his perfect run in the crease going, and Mark Jankowski kept his recent scoring touch alive by extending his goal streak to five games.
For a club that has spent the season leaning on depth and pace, this stretch is a reminder of how many different ways it can beat teams when it is clicking. The offense has been spreading the load, the goaltending has been steady, and the results are adding up quickly. Washington found out again what a Carolina team looks like when it is not just winning, but building momentum with each game. [Read more 🡒]