Hurricane Sebastian: ‘Canes Down Caps 5-4 in Overtime on Goal from Sebastian Aho

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Michael Fleetwood
42720573_487443398418903_4193094142072455168_nPhoto: @Capitals

Through five preseason games, and yet more roster cuts, the Capitals’ Opening Night roster is closer to being finalized and Friday night’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes gave the chance for more players not expected on the Opening Night roster to secure their spot with the big league club, especially with the absence of defenseman Michal Kempny and forward Travis Boyd due to injuries.

1st Period

The game started off with a prime opportunity for the Capitals to get on the board, as Carolina star Sebastian Aho was sent to the sin bin at the 3:36 mark for tripping Capitals’ center Nicklas Backstrom. Despite some opportunities, the Caps failed to put an early dent in the scoreboard. Just over four minutes, later the Caps got their second power play of the game and period when Hurricanes prospect Andrei Svechnikov was called for slashing Caps defenseman Aaron Ness. This time, the Caps pulled ahead 1-0 on a power play goal from captain Alex Ovechkin at the 8:01 mark, with assists credited to John Carlson and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The lead would last only one and a half minutes, as Hurricanes forward Teuvo Teravainen scored his first of the preseason on assists from Aho and Warren Foegele. Both teams remained deadlocked at one for much of the remainder of the opening frame, until Teravainen struck again at the 19:00 mark. The Hurricanes would head into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead on the scoreboard and in shots, 11-9.

2nd Period

The ‘Canes would get their first man-advantage early in the second, after Capitals center Nic Dowd was called for slashing Carolina’s Brett Pesce. The Hurricanes would fail to add to their lead. Carolina would add to their lead on their second power play of the period as a result of a slashing call against Ovechkin, as Svechnikov put a laser over the shoulder of Caps netminder Braden Holtby to give the ‘Canes a strong 3-1 lead, on assists from Lucas Wallmark and Jaccob Slavin.

Forward Jayson Megna would pull the Caps within one just seven seconds later, by making a brilliant move around a Carolina defender for his first of the preseason.

Ovechkin would make up for his earlier infraction by putting a rebound past Carolina goaltender Petr Mrazek to tie the game with just over two minutes left in the second; Tom Wilson and Kuznetsov were credited with the assists on the goal.

The Capitals and ‘Canes would head to the second intermission deadlocked at 3-3.

3rd Period

The Capitals would begin the final frame with time left on a power play that came as a result of a tripping call against Svechnikov. The Caps would fail to convert on the man-advantage, and subsequently put the visitors on a power play of their own, as Ovechkin took his second slash of the game. This time, the Hurricanes made the most of the man-advantage, pulling ahead on a goal from Valentin Zykov, with assists from Teravainen and Justin Faulk.

After delivering a solid, shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Carolina’s Saku Maenalanen, Wilson and Maelananen both received matching minors after a small scuffle ensued. The Hurricanes’ would hold the lead for another four minutes before Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky put the puck past Mrazek at the 12:59 mark to tie the game at 4-4, with an assist from Lars Eller.

The Caps would get their fifth power play of the night on a Greg McKegg hook on Madison Bowey, but failed to get the biscuit past Mrazek. They would get their sixth man-advantage of the night just moments later on a tripping call to Patrick Brown. Despite some excellent looks, the Caps failed again to secure a lead. The two teams ended regulation at 4-4, with the Hurricanes leading the Capitals in shots 35-29.

Overtime

The Canes needed just 19 seconds to come away with the victory, as Sebastian Aho scored his second of the night and preseason to give the Hurricanes their fifth preseason victory. Teravainen and Slavvin were credited with assists on the play. The Hurricanes ended the game leading the Caps in shots 36-29, and having scored on two of their three power plays, compared to the Caps’ 1/6 conversion rate with the man-advantage. The Capitals turned the puck over 13 times in their fifth preseason loss.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

About Michael Fleetwood

Michael Fleetwood was born into a family of diehard Capitals fans and has been watching games as long as he can remember. He was born the year the Capitals went to their first Stanley Cup Final, and is a diehard Caps fan, the owner of the very FIRST Joe Beninati jersey and since then, has met Joe himself. Michael joined the NoVa Caps team in 2015, and is most proud of the growth of the NoVa Caps community in that time. An avid photographer, Michael resides in VA.
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3 Responses to Hurricane Sebastian: ‘Canes Down Caps 5-4 in Overtime on Goal from Sebastian Aho

  1. Anonymous says:
    September 28, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    So who looked good? for me the 4th line is a proving ground for the top 9… Ill go with DSP, TB, CS, ND, NW…

    Reply
  2. Diane Doyle says:
    September 29, 2018 at 12:00 am

    1) The team was allowing way too many breakaways, with many resulting in the back of the net.

    2) Caps unable to score on not one but TWO power play opportunities with 5 minutest left to go.

    3) Svetchnikov of Carolina scoring a goal, having an assist, and taking three penalties. (Ovi had two goals and two penalties. Ovi, you’re supposed to show a good example for the young ones, not imitate Carolina’s rookies.)

    Reply

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