WASHINGTON, DC – The Washington Capitals faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night in the first of two upcoming games between the two teams. The Hurricanes dominated the first period, taking a three-goal lead with goals from Sean Walker, Jackson Blake, and Seth Jarvis. Logan Stankoven extended Carolina’s lead in the second period, before Alex Ovechkin scored his 892nd career goal for the Capitals.
Despite a stronger performance from the Capitals in the second period, going down three goals in the first proved to be a challenging deficit to overcome. Goalie Logan Thompson was replaced by Charlie Lindgren after allowing three goals in the first period due to an upper-body injury. Ovechkin’s milestone goal put him just two goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record in the NHL.
In the third period, frustrations ran high for the Capitals as they faced penalties and challenges from both the Hurricanes and the referees. Multiple players, including Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael, received penalties leading to early exits from the game. The penalty kill for the Capitals struggled, allowing three power-play goals from the Hurricanes in six opportunities.
Looking ahead, the Capitals will return home to face the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4. The spotlight will continue to be on Ovechkin as he approaches Gretzky’s record, and the team will aim to bounce back from their loss to the Hurricanes. The game against the Blackhawks will be a key matchup to watch as the Capitals strive for victory in their upcoming games.