The Carolina Hurricanes figured they had done good work offensively, but their opponent on Sunday nearly equaled that work in a game this weekend.
The Washington Capitals will enter their matchup vs. the Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., fresh off a 7-2 home victory against Columbus on Saturday.
The Hurricanes hold a five-game winning streak. That includes Thursday night’s 8-2 shredding of the Boston Bruins, with the goal total twice as many as Carolina’s previous season high. The goal total matches the largest output for any NHL team in one game this season.
The Hurricanes scored four times in the first period against Boston after posting only seven first-period goals in their first eight games combined.
The Capitals have at least four goals in seven of their eight victories this season, including at least five goals in half of their 10 games.
“We’ll get on the road and get out of here and do it again (on Sunday) night,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said Saturday.
The Capitals tallied five times in the first period against Columbus.
“I’m glad that we’ve been able to, from scoring production offensive standpoint, have done a pretty good job thus far,” Carbery said.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has back-to-back three-point outings. It’s the first time he has done that since November 2021.
Several of the Hurricanes are off to hot starts. Jack Roslovic, who is in his first season with the team, has six goals. He had nine goals across 59 games with Columbus and the New York Rangers last season.
“The style of play that we play,” Roslovic said. “I enjoy playing in this system.”
Carolina forward Martin Necas has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists), putting him well ahead of last season’s pace, when he collected 53 points in 77 games.
The Hurricanes scored three power-play goals in the Boston game. They have at least one power-play goal in six of their nine games.
“We’re trying to get on the net, we’re winning face-offs, good breakouts and kind of feel comfortable there,” Necas said. “We’re all good players there, and we’re trying to make plays.”
Carolina has at least 31 shots in its last eight games.
The Hurricanes likely will go with Pyotr Kochetkov in net again considering the two full off-days on the schedule between games. Frederik Andersen, who had been rotating with Kochetkov, is out with an injury that has been described as “week-to-week,” so that puts Spencer Martin as the other active goalie.
Amid Washington’s success, there has been a roster tweak. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun was placed on injured reserve Saturday, with defenseman Vincent Iorio called up from Hershey of the American Hockey League.
“We want to use Vinny (Sunday) in Carolina,” Carbery said.
The Capitals will play on back-to-back days for the second time this season. They swept the Philadelphia Flyers in a home-and-home Oct. 22-23.
Last season, the Capitals and Hurricanes split their first two meetings — both in shootouts — before Carolina won 4-2 in the last clash in April.
–Field Level Media