Photo: Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes thumped the Washington Capitals, 6-1 Monday night at Capital One Arena. The loss drops the Capitals record to 37-21-10 (84 points) on the season. The Capitals end the season series with the Hurricanes, 3-1.
SUMMARY
The Hurricanes wasted little time in denting the twine, notching the game’s first tally less than three minutes into the contest and would make it 2-0 less than eight minutes into the game. They held a 2-0 lead at the first break.
Tom Wilson closed the gap to 2-1 early in the middle frame, but the Hurricanes answered right back with a shorthanded goal to make it 3-1. They would score again just over two minutes later to quickly make it 4-1 midway through the middle frame and add a fifth tally late in the period for a 5-1 lead at the second intermission.
The Hurricanes added a sixth goal midway through the final period for the 6-1 final.
STATS
STARTERS
Vitek Vanecek (17-9-0-5, 2.45 GAA, .917 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the Capitals. Frederick Andersen (31-10-0-3, 2.07 GAA, .926 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Hurricanes. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
FIRST PERIOD
The Hurricanes struck quickly with a tally from Derek Stepan (8) at 2:41 of the first frame. Jasperi Kotkaniemi (15) and Max Domi (24) had the helpers.
Derek Stepan scores against the Washington Capitals to make it 1-0 #WSHvsCAR #ALLCAPS #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/j9HoHrjnrm
— nopClips (@nopClips) March 28, 2022
The Hurricanes would quickly make it 2-0 with a goal from Martin Necas (12) at 7:47 of the first frame. Vincent Trocheck (27) and Andrei Svechnikov (33) had the assists.
Marty Necas 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/T60KvsR4Xr
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 28, 2022
The Capitals to appear their first goal of the night moments later on the power play, but T.J. Oshie was whistled for a penalty.
#ALLCAPS THEY GAVE OSHIE A PENALTY FOR THIS. OVECHKIN SCORED pic.twitter.com/y0DMtO7DuQ
— Capitals Replays (@capsreplays) March 28, 2022
The period would end with the Hurricanes leading 2-0. The Hurricanes led in shot attempts 21-12, scoring chances 10-6, high-danger chances 5-2 and expected goals for 1.41 to .37.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals closed the gap to one with a goal from Tom Wilson (21) at 6:47 of the middle frame. Dmitry Orlov (20) and Anthony Mantha (8) had the assists.
Willyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy pic.twitter.com/U2q84tiO8O
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) March 29, 2022
But the Hurricanes would answer with a shorthanded goal moments later. Sebastian Aho would notch Carolina’s third goal to make it 3-1. Teuvo Teravainen (36) and Ian Cole (x) had the assists.
AAHHHHOOOOO!!! Fishy with the shorty makes it 3-1!@Canes | #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/T50s680lfm
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) March 29, 2022
The Hurricanes would make it 4-1 with an unassisted goal from Brett Pesce (7) at 10:38 of the second period. Teuvo Teravainen (37) and Brady Skjei (21) had the helpers.
B-E-A-UTIFUL! Pesce makes it 4-1!@Canes | #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/0eES3c2Kz3
— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) March 29, 2022
Martin Necas made it 5-1 late in the middle frame. The goal was unassisted.
Martin Necas scores against the Washington Capitals to make it 5-1 #WSHvsCAR #ALLCAPS #LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/ufuhhS9PuD
— nopClips (@nopClips) March 29, 2022
The period would end with the Hurricanes leading, 5-1. Capitals led in shot attempts 15-14, scoring chances 11-4, high-danger chances, 7-3 and expected goals, 1.60 to .82.
THIRD PERIOD
Ilya Samsonov replaced Vitek Vanecek to start the third period.
The Hurricanes stretched their lead to 6-1 midway through the final frame with a goal from Brady Skjei (8) at 9:57 of the third. That would be the final.
Tom Wilson and Brendan Smith dropped the mitts, providing the only juice of the third period.
Former New York Ranger Brendan Smith dropped the gloves with Tom Wilson again. A rematch from the end of last season when Smith and Wilson fought following the Panarin incident #nyr #letsgocanes #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/CJajV4IbCB
— Kyle Hall (@KHallNY) March 29, 2022
The Capitals now have five days off before they return to action on Sunday when they host the Minnesota Wild at Capital One Arena.
5 days off. Time enough to go to the driving range and putting green and get some practice in. Backy can try out his new clubs.
What do you mean. We got MoJo back!
Let’s hope there’s no news of any Capitals getting a hearing with DoPS tomorrow. (Canes fans think Eller should get suspended.)
Ask the Canes fans where the penalty is for backchecking Oshie on the PP and then for holding and taking his stick. Refs were blinder than bats. Canes got away with murder in this game so tell them to politily shut up as they won. Learn to be good winners.
Wondering what the refs were watching when the Canes backchecked Oshie on the PP and then took away his stick. Should have been a 5 on 3 for at least 4 minutes. Best thing about this game was Tom got to release some of his frustration i the 3rd period.
Listening to the Tampa game. Both Phil Esposito (whose excited quotient is normally high) and his much calmer play by play partner are both having kittens over the no calls against the Canes. 10 minutes into the game they are not only complaining about missed PPs but feel they should have been 5 on 3s. And they are giving detailed arguments.
One big complaint is that Canes are holding and it isn’t getting called. Sound familiar? Then when Tampa wins the faceoff, the play is thrown dead but no player is tossed.