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Twenty-two years after the Washington Capitals selected him first overall in the 2004 NHL Draft, Alex Ovechkin is back in the same building where his NHL journey began. Tonight, he’ll play his final regular-season game in Raleigh as his farewell tour makes its first stop against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ovechkin has 33 goals and 59 points in 48 career road games against Carolina. Those are his highest goal and point totals at any NHL venue outside Capital One Arena.
The Capitals return to Lenovo Center just 11 days after handing Carolina a 5-2 loss in their season opener. Since then, the Hurricanes haven’t lost, rattling off five consecutive victories and climbing to the top of the NHL standings. Washington, currently fourth in the Metropolitan Division standings, will try to cool them off while dealing with some lineup uncertainty of its own.
Metropolitan Division Standings the morning of Oct. 13
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | OT | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina Hurricanes | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Washington Capitals | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | New York Islanders | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | New Jersey Devils | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Flyers | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Pierre-Luc Dubois (illness) and Matt Roy (lower body) remain out, while Alex Tuch is a game-time decision. Defenseman Justin Holl could make his Capitals debut after being recalled from Hershey. Carolina, meanwhile, will be without captain Jordan Staal and forward Seth Jarvis. Catch up on everything from our morning skate round up.
Puck drop is at 6:45 pm as part of the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy, with all 32 teams in action. The GOATs Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call on Monumental Sports Network.
Catch up on the news
- The Connor Hellebuyck situation is getting awkward turtle
- Ovi’s “great memories” of Raleigh
- The NHL’s Hometown Remix jerseys are getting dropped kinda soon
- TJ Oshie had high praise for Cole Hutson after seeing him at ice level
- Alexa Landestoy is having twins
- Caps aren’t sure what to expect on the farewell tour
- Alex Ovechkin scored free 9:30 Club tickets for life after reaching the NHL’s 930 goal club
- Hershey’s goaltending situation susses itself out
Projected lines
Washington Capitals
Holl is in over McIlrath and will make his Capitals debut tonight.
Carolina Hurricanes
Goaltending matchup
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Beauvillier-Sourdif-Frank and Chychrun-Liljegren get the start for the Capitals.
Puck is dropped.
We’re going to four-on-four hockey.
Penalty kill
Coincidental minors: Jakob Chychrun off for tripping; William Carrier interference penalty at 3:18
Hurricanes honor Alex Ovechkin during the first TV timeout, giving him a standing ovation. Ovi waved to the crowd from the bench.
Boone Jenner lights the lamp, now has goals in three straight and points in four of the last five (3g, 1a).
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Boone Jenner (3). Assists: R. Leonard (3). Time: 9:26
Vincent Desharnais draws a dumb retaliation penalty on Nicolas Deslauriers. Now Rod Brind’Amour is fired up on the bench! He doesn’t like the call.
Power play
Nicolas Deslauriers cross-checking penalty at 17:27
Capitals going to a 14 second 5-on-3 as Svechnikov takes an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Loud boos. Rod is going crazy.
Power play
Andrei Svechnikov unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at 19:13
Ilya Protas pushes the puck home at the far post, but he knocks Kochetkov’s pads and glove over the goal line while he’s freezing the puck. Refs deem it no goal on the ice, but they’re reviewing with the situation room.
At intermission: Capitals lead 1-0 and have a 10-8 shots advantage.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Andrei Svechnikov scores at 3:58, but Spencer Carbery is protesting that Svechnikov interfered with Logan Thompson by pushing his pad along with the puck into the net.
Spencer Carbery challenges. Goal on the ice is confirmed.
1-1 tie
Goal: Andrei Svechnikov (5). Assists: W. Carrier (6), S. Aho (6). Time: 3:58
Here’s another look.
And now the Caps go to the PK. Double whammy.
Penalty kill
Capitals Bench minor - delay of game for failed Coach's Challenge at 3:58
Ovechkin takes a huge hit behind the net to keep the play alive, puck cycles over to Strom who finds … Justin Holl wide open for a goal from the top of the circles. Caps take back the lead!
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Justin Holl (1). Assists: D. Strome (5), R. Leonard (4). Time: 6:39
LT is ailing after taking a stick to the throat from Jakob Chychrun. He’s trying to shrug it off. That’s gotta hurt.
The checking is getting much tighter here.
Robinson’s pass goes off Fehervary’s stick and in during a rush to the net. Leno is going after Blake.
2-2 tie
Goal: Eric Robinson (2). Assists: J. Blake (7), S. Walker (6). Time: 18:49
Leno and Blake getting roughing minors. 4-on-4 hockey.
Hurricanes getting a long 4-on-3 power play.
Penalty kill
Jakob Chychrun hooking penalty on Andrei Svechnikov at 19:25
At intermission: The game’s tied 2-2. Hurricanes lead in shots 24-16. Big kill to start the third period upcoming.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Capitals kill the rest of the Canes’ power play.
Taylor Hall is out for the rest of the game due to an upper-body injury.
Justin Holl loses his skate blade as he’s skating to the puck in the defensive zone, which leads to a Hurricanes chance.
Jakob Chychrun breaks his stick on a point shot, but luckily it does not turn into a breakaway for the Canes. That was almost another disaster.
Penalty kill
Ryan Leonard slashing minor at 7:12
Caps kill the penalty.
Back and forth we go, but the Hurricanes are getting the better of the chances.
D’Andre Miller off the post.
Huge glove save by Logan Thompson on Jalen Chatfield going to the far post. Put that one a hockey card.
Now LT robs Jackson Blake with his glove. Sourdif takes the Capitals fifth penalty after he clips Blake earlier in the play.
Penalty kill
Justin Sourdif tripping minor at 13:49
Seven seconds later, the Canes take the lead off Svechnikov’s second of the night. Left wide open in front of the net, he deked before finishing on his backhand. That’s Carolina’s first lead of the game.
3-2 Carolina Hurricanes
PPG: Andrei Svechnikov (6). Assists: N. Ehlers (4). Time: 13:56
Carrier catches Liljegren, unsuspecting, in the side of the head with a hit along the corner boards. Seemed like an accident. Liljegren, thankfully, seems okay.
LT gets pulled with about 1:45 remaining in the third period for an extra man.
4-2 Carolina Hurricanes
ENG: Mark Jankowski (5). Assists:A. Svechnikov (5), S. Aho (7). Time: 18:33
LT pulled again.
Kochetkov goes for a goalie goal but appears to hit Chychrun in the face.
Capitals lose 4-2.
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