Capitals Storm Back To Beat Hurricanes, 6-5 (SO); Alex Ovechkin Does It Again

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Harrison Brown
6bla_dun.jpg-largePhoto: @MonumentalSports

The Washington Capitals rallied to beat the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 6-5 in a shootout at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday night, after trailing 4-1 in the second period. Goaltender Braden Holtby made 22 saves in the win. Captain Alex Ovechkin recorded his second hat trick in as many games and tied his career-high 13-game point-streak in the win, the Capitals’ fourth in a row and 11th in their past 13. 

Capitals Lines at Hurricanes

Forward Tom Wilson returned to the lineup after missing the past three games with a concussion and played on the second line next to forward Jakub Vrana and center Evgeny Kuznetsov. Forwards Chandler Stephenson and Andre Burakovsky were scratched for the second consecutive game. Defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler played on the third defensive pair next to Madison Bowey after it was announced today that Christian Djoos underwent surgery on his left thigh and will be out for weeks after getting injured in Tuesday’s 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Goaltender Scott Darling started for the Hurricanes, who lost 6-4 to the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre last night.

First Period

Forward Jordan Martinook opened the scoring 47 seconds into the game on a wraparound to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead.

Captain Alex Ovechkin hammered a shot from his office after getting the puck from defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler, who tallied the first point of his NHL career, to tie his career-long point-streak at 13. He has 14 goals in that span. It also marked his league-leading 26th goal of the season.

Sebastian Aho gave Carolina the lead back going backhand five-hole on Holtby on a breakaway on a Capitals power play at 13:18 elapsed time.

The Capitals had no giveaways while Carolina had four in the first 20 minutes.

The Hurricanes led 8-5 in blocked shots, 5-4 in takeaways, 16-5 in hits, and 5-4 in takeaways after a period of play. They won 60% of the faceoffs.

Each team recorded 10 shots and went 0-for-1 on the power-play in the first stanza.

Second Period

Aho scored again 5:39 into the middle period on a wicked shot from the left circle after defenseman Justin Faulk fed him from the point. Aho went glove side on Holtby on the power-play.

Teuvo Teravainen made it 4-1 with a snipe from the left circle, which went by Holtby’s blocker, on the power play 6:41 into the frame.

Wilson cut the lead in half on a rebound outside the goal crease for his seventh goal in eight games 12:37 into the period.

Ovechkin got his second of the night, sniping another from the left circle after faking one, with 3:25 left in the period.

Center Travis Boyd tipped in Carlson’s shot in front of Darling to tie the game at four 54 seconds after Ovechkin scored for his third goal in as many games.

The Capitals led 21-16 in shots, including 11-6 in the second frame, 15-9 in blocked shots, and 10-6 in takeaways. The team had four takeaways while the Hurricanes had 11. The Capitals went 0-for-1 on the power-play.

The Hurricanes led 20-16 in hits and won 60% of the faceoffs through 40 minutes. Carolina went 2-for-3 on the man advantage.

Third Period

Ovechkin scored on a bomb from his office after Carlson fed him from the point on the power-play for his 28th goal of the season and his second hat trick in as many games.

Former Capitals forward Justin Williams tied the game for the Hurricanes with 7:12 left. Holtby tried to clear the puck from the trapezoid, but it hit the net and Williams buried it to tie the game with his seventh of the season.

The Capitals led 28-26 in shots, 23-22 in hits, 19-15 in blocked shots, and 15-12 in takeaways. The team had 13 takeaways while the Hurricanes had 18. The Capitals went 1-for-2 on the power-play.

The Hurricanes led 10-7 in third-period shots and won 63% of the faceoffs. Carolina went 3-for-5 on the man advantage.

The game would go to overtime.

Overtime

Defenseman Matt Niskanen would get called for tripping on defenseman Jaccob Slavin with 1:35 left in overtime.

The Capitals led 29-27 in shots after overtime with each team getting a shot in overtime. The game would go to a shootout.

Holtby made 22 saves in regulation and overtime.

Shootout

Holtby steered aside the Hurricanes’ first attempt on his blocker side.

Oshie was shut down on the five hole by Darling.

Slavin was shut down by Holtby on the glove side after shooting it on his backhand.

Kuznetsov got denied on the five-hole by Darling again.

Forward Phil Di Giuseppe was denied on the blocker side after going backhand-forehand on Holtby.

Darling robbed Ovechkin on the glove side.

Hamilton pulled a Forsberg move to beat Holtby in the fourth round.

Backstrom deked and put it through the legs of Darling to extend the game.

Holtby shut down Williams, who tried to go through the five hole.

Center Lars Eller was denied by the blocker of Darling in the bottom of the sixth.

Forward Brock McGinn was stopped by Holtby with the blocker down low.

In his first shootout attempt in his career, Vrana went through Darling’s blocker to win the game for the Capitals.

The Capitals next play tomorrow night against the Buffalo Sabres at home. Puck drop from Capital One Arena can be seen on NBC Sports Washington starting at 7 PM.

By Harrison Brown

About Harrison Brown

Harrison is a diehard Caps fan and a hockey fanatic with a passion for sports writing. He attended his first game at age 8 and has been a season ticket holder since the 2010-2011 season. His fondest Caps memory was watching the Capitals hoist the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, photography, and hanging out with his two dogs. Follow Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonB927077
This entry was posted in News and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.