The Carolina Hurricanes demonstrated remarkable resilience and offensive prowess, staging an impressive comeback to defeat the Washington Capitals 6-2 at the Capital One Arena on Friday. The Hurricanes’ performance was highlighted by a third-period rally that saw them score five consecutive goals, overturning a deficit into a commanding victory.
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns played a pivotal role, contributing two goals and an assist. His performance, coupled with Andrei Svechnikov’s goal and two assists, propelled the Hurricanes to their fifth consecutive win. Svechnikov’s go-ahead goal on the power play at 12:41 of the third period was particularly crucial, extending his multipoint streak to six games and matching a franchise record.
“I feel like it’s chemistry and the power play’s been clicking a lot,” Svechnikov said, reflecting on the team’s recent success. His sentiments were echoed by Burns, who acknowledged the team’s earlier struggles and the importance of building winning streaks post-holiday break.
For the Capitals, despite a promising start, the game proved challenging. Nic Dowd and Dylan Strome provided early goals, but the team struggled to maintain momentum. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged the deceptive nature of their initial lead, indicating a lack of control over the game’s flow.
The Hurricanes’ third-period dominance began with Svechnikov’s power-play goal, followed by Burns’ powerful slap shot, giving Carolina a 4-2 lead. Dmitry Orlov, in his first game back against his former team, added to the tally with a short-handed empty-net goal. Vasily Ponomarev, making his NHL debut, capped off the scoring with a goal at 19:01, marking a dream start to his NHL career.
In contrast, the Capitals faced a challenging night, with coach Carbery and defenseman John Carlson expressing frustration over missed opportunities and the difficulty in seizing key moments in the game.
The game was also notable for several individual achievements. Sebastian Aho extended his point streak with three assists, while Washington’s John Carlson reached a milestone of 500 career assists. Alex Ovechkin continued his consistent performance with an assist, extending his point streak.
For the Hurricanes, this victory not only showcases their offensive depth but also their ability to turn games around in crucial moments. With this win, they improve to a 22-13-4 record, maintaining their momentum in the season. Meanwhile, the Capitals, now at 18-13-6, will look to regroup and address the issues that led to their unraveling in the third period.
