Photo: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes by a score of 4-3 in a shootout at PNC Arena on Friday night to leapfrog a point ahead of the Boston Bruins (who have a game in hand) for the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are now a point behind the New York Rangers (two) for third in the Metropolitan Division and three back of the Pittsburgh Penguins (one) for second. Their eight-game point-streak (7-0-1) ties their season-high set from October 13-29 (5-0-3). Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 17 saves in the win.

Capitals’ Lines at Hurricanes

Graphic: @Capitals

With right-wing T.J. Oshie out, center Michael Vecchione played in his first NHL game since April 9, 2017 in their lone lineup change from Thursday’s 7-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Scratched: LHD Michal Kempny, LHD Matt Irwin

Injured: Oshie (lower-body, missed first game, day-to-day); LW Carl Hagelin (eye, seventh, out indefinitely); LW Joe Snively (upper-body, seventh, week-to-week)

COVID-19 Protocol: C Lars Eller (second)

First Period

Right-wing Seth Jarvis ripped a shot past the blocker of Samsonov at the slot after taking a drop pass from center Steven Lorentz to open the scoring for the Hurricanes 5:17 in.

2:15 later, center Evgeny Kuznetsov ripped one from a sharp ankle and banked the puck off of goaltender Antti Raanta’s helmet and in after picking the puck up behind the goal-line to tie it. The 29-year-old extended his point-streak to eight games (six goals, 11 points), tying captain Alex Ovechkin for the longest point-streak (10/13-10/29) by a Capital this season.

#ALLCAPS 1-1. KUZY TIES IT UP FROM THE KUZY ANGLE. also Niederreiter wants nothing to do with Ovechkin. pic.twitter.com/2VUMT7xnyi

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 18, 2022

Defenseman John Carlson hammered a one-timer from just above the right dot after center Connor McMichael spun off defenseman Brendan Smith behind the net and laid the puck on a tee for him to give the Capitals the lead at 10:45. The Capitals’ 33 combined goals by defensemen this season are tied for the fifth-most in the NHL. Carlson has recorded six points (five assists) in his last five games.

#ALLCAPS 2-1. CARLY BOMB. FROM MCMICHAEL. pic.twitter.com/wMqM69uhTK

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 18, 2022

The Capitals led 14-6 in shots, 16-12 in hits, won 54% of the draws, and had three giveaways while the Hurricanes tallied four through 20 minutes.

The Hurricanes led 4-1 in takeaways and 3-0 in blocked shots in the first.

Each team did not get a full power play with which to work with in the period.

Second Period

Center Vincent Trocheck teed one up and blasted a shot to the top right corner after defenseman Ethan Bear prevented the puck from leaving the zone at the half-wall and passed it to Trocheck in the slot to tie it 7:06 into the period.

Jarvis slammed home his second of the night with Samsonov down in front after center Jordan Staal deked and feathered a pass underneath Kuznetsov’s stick to give Carolina the lead with 12.4 seconds to go in the second.

The Capitals led 22-12 in shots (including 8-6 in the second), 23-19 in hits, 6-5 in takeaways, had seven giveaways while the Hurricanes earned 10, and won 51% of the faceoffs through 40 minutes.

The Hurricanes led 7-2 in blocked shots after two.

Each team did not score on their lone power-play chance in the first two periods.

Third Period

Captain Alex Ovechkin pinched, ripped one off of the draw on the power play, and beat Raanta to the glove to tie it with 5:04 to go. It marks Ovechkin’s second-straight game with a power play goal and his 10th goal in his last 13 games. Ovechkin passed Luc Robitaille (1,394) for the 22nd-most points in NHL history and has the most points by a left-wing.

#ALLCAPS 3-3. OVI TIES IT UP! RIGHT OFF THE DRAW. LISTEN TO THE OVI CHANTS pic.twitter.com/O1zkEL7ApT

— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 19, 2022

The Capitals led 36-19 in shots (including 14-7 in the third), 31-26 in hits, 10-7 in blocked shots, scored once on three power plays, had nine giveaways while the Hurricanes earned 19.

The Hurricanes won 54% of the draws and was held scoreless on two power plays.

Each team earned nine takeaways.

Overtime

The Capitals led 4-1 in overtime shots and 40-20 in overall shots.

Shootout

Trocheck weaved and deked but lost the puck at the side of the net.

Kuznetsov hit the post after streaking in down the right wing.

Right-wing Andrei Svechnikov was shut down by Samsonov after trying to go five hole.

Center Nicklas Backstrom deked numerous times before Raanta stoned him with the pad.

Jarvis was robbed by Samsonov with the glove.

Ovechkin deked to the backhand and put it off the post and in to win it. It marked his 36th career shootout goal and 15th career game-deciding shootout goal to extend the Capitals point streak to eight games (7-0-1).

Next game: Sunday vs. Dallas Stars (5 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market)

By Harrison Brown