RALEIGH, N.C. — Dmitry Orlov played a crucial role in leading the Carolina Hurricanes to a 4-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon.
The Hurricanes extended their winning streak to six games, with Martin Necas contributing significantly by scoring one goal and assisting two others. Andrei Svechnikov sealed the game with an empty-net goal late in the match.
For the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin and Brandon Duhaime managed to score, but their efforts were not enough to secure a win. This defeat marked the end of a three-game winning streak for Washington.
The Capitals struck first, netting two goals in just 33 seconds towards the close of the first period, taking a brief 2-1 lead. After that, Carolina’s goalie Pyotr Kochetkov stood firm and prevented any further goals from the Capitals.
Both Necas and Orlov found the back of the net early in the second period, shifting momentum back to the Hurricanes and ultimately guiding them to victory. Charlie Lindgren, in goal for the Capitals, faced 40 shots throughout the game.
In highlights from the game, Ovechkin showcased his skill with a power-play one-timer from the left circle, which marked his fifth goal over the last four games and raised his season total to seven. He is currently seeking to reach 894 career goals, needing 35 more to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record.
For the Hurricanes, their long-standing tradition of participating in the State Fair in Raleigh necessitates an annual road trip in October. This season, the team successfully returned home, winning their first two games back, just as they did the previous year. They still have two more home games scheduled before embarking on a challenging three-game road trip against Western Conference opponents.
A pivotal moment in the game came when Orlov scored a one-timer from the right circle, assisted by Necas, to break a 2-2 tie at 5:26 into the second period. Necas, currently enjoying a six-game point streak, leads the team with a total of 18 points.
A noteworthy statistic from the matchup indicates that once the Hurricanes take the lead into the second intermission, they become a tough team to beat, boasting a perfect record of 7-0-0 when leading after two periods this season.
Looking ahead, the Capitals will host Nashville on Wednesday, while the Hurricanes are set to continue their four-game homestand by facing off against Philadelphia on Tuesday.