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Game preview
The Washington Capitals are officially back, pals.
After an eventful offseason filled with big additions and plenty of change, the Capitals will finally drop the puck on their 2026-27 season Friday night against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center.
Alex Ovechkin will begin his 22nd NHL season after missing the entire preseason with a lower-body injury, while newcomers Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou, Boone Jenner, and Vincent Desharnais will make their Capitals debuts. Washington won’t exactly get the luxury of easing into things. After tonight’s matchup in Raleigh, the Capitals will travel to Tampa, where they’ll take on the Lightning for game two of their road back-to-back on Saturday night.
Puck drop against the Hurricanes is shortly after 7 pm. Follow along below for live updates, highlights, analysis, and all of our assorted observations from Opening Night. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network. How to watch.
Must-read RMNB content
- Need to get caught up before puck drop? Start here.
- Caps leadership committee
- Joe B and Locker’s 30th season together
- Capitals schedule this season
- Here’s how to watch Capitals games without cable
- There are 28 players who were born on or after Alex Ovechkin’s debut in the NHL
- NHL launches “Hot For Hockey” campaign
Lines
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltending matchup
Tunnel shenanigans
Joe B. and Locker: Season 30. We’re so lucky.
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
Pierre-Luc Dubois finishes Sean Walker hard into the boards, and the two gentlemen have some angry conversatin’ about it. They’re both getting minors for roughing at 2:21 of the first period. Four-on-four hockey for two minutes.
Hutson to Fehervary (??) on a 2-on-1 but Bussi makes a big save on the Slovakian rearguard.
From the sideboards, Jakob Chychrun turns it over right to Jordan Martinook, who gets stopped by LT on a semi-breakaway right in front of the net.
Brandon Bussi gets the puck stolen by PLD behind the net. PLD then sends the puck to the slot, where Alex Tuch buries it. That’s Tuch’s first goal as a Capital.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Tuch (1). Assists: P. Dubois (1), A. Ovechkin (1). Time: 6:33
Cole Hutson curl-and-drags in the high slot, changes the angle on his shot, and beats Bussi short-side.
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Cole Hutson (1). Assists: I. Protas (1), A. Protas (1). Time: 11:33
Protas brothers on the scoresheet together for the first time this season.
Tuch bangs home a loose puck in the crease. He’s got two goals now. Caps are opening a can on the Hurricanes.
3-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Tuch (2). Assists: T. Wilson (1), P. Dubois (2). Time: 14:23
Alex Ovechkin nearly scores from the right circle, sending a sneaky shot at Bussi’s five hole, but the goaltender squeezes the pads just in time.
At intermission: Capitals dominate the Hurricanes in the first period, leading 3-0. Caps lead in shots 15-12. 5v5 hot attempts are even at 23-23. Expected goals tell the story: 1.46 WSH 0.72 CAR. Are the Caps a Stanley Cup contender? 20 minutes in: yes.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Power play
Charles Alexis Legault slashing penalty at 1:09
Chychrun rips one past Bussi on the Capitals’ first power play of the year.
4-0 Washington Capitals
Jakob Chychrun PPG (1). Assists: D. Strome (1). Time: 1:36
Penalty kill
Pierre-Luc Dubois cross-checking penalty at 4:38
Tuch and Big Pro on a two-on-none break but Protas loses control of the puck!
Leonard dangerous on the 5v5 shift after the Capitals kill the PLD penalty.
Penalty kill
Jakob Chychrun tripping penalty at 8:57
Caps take a third straight penalty.
Penalty kill
Cole Hutson interference penalty at 15:30
Tom Wilson blocks a shot and loses his skate blade. The puck eventually swings over to Aho who beats Thompson short-side.
4-1 Washington Capitals
Sebastian Aho PPG (1). Assists: A. Svechnikov (1), J. Blake (1). Time: 16:50
First shift after the power play, Strome to Leonard for a tap-in. Ovechkin worked as a pretty good decoy there in the middle.
5-1 Washington Capitals
Ryan Leonard (1). Assists: D. Strome (2), J. Chychrun (1). Time: 16:58
Fourth straight penalty against the Caps.
Penalty kill
Capitals bench minor at 18:21. 2 minutes for Too many men on the ice
At intermission: The shutout’s goal, but the shellacking remains. 5-1 Capitals!
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Fifth straight penalty against the Capitals. Hey, you can’t have everything in Game 1 of 84.
Penalty kill
Cole Hutson holding penalty at 1:58
Sixth straight penalty!
Penalty kill
Martin Fehervary cross-checking at 7:17
5-2 Washington Capitals
Logan Stankoven (1). Assists: K. Miller (1), W. Carrier (1). Time: 10:50
Taylor Hall with a rough run on Ilya Protas. Caps end the penalty parade and go to the power play.
Power play
Taylor Hall tripping penalty at 13:15
Final minute fracas. Capitals fourth line mucking it up.
Capitals win 5-2. Hurricanes outshoot Washington 33-27 due to all the penalties. [Does Tom Wilson sarcastic storm surge clap.]
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