The Carolina Hurricanes ring in the New Year with a big 4-2 win over the NHL-leading Washington Capitals.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
No Goals
2nd Period
CAR Goal (7:48) – Phil Di Giuseppe (3), assisted by Joakim Nordstrom (6), Jordan Staal (8)
The Canes truck first in this one thanks to great end-to-end play. Staal won a defensive zone faceoff, and that led to a quick rush from the Canes that was capped off by a great pass from Nordstrom through the slot and a good finish by Di Giuseppe on the one-timer.
WSH Goal (9:49) – Nicklas Backstrom (11), assisted by Karl Alzner (8), Matt Niskanen (11)
The Caps came right back with a goal of their own on the rush. The Canes defense was a bit weak on their gap control, and it gave Backstrom more than enough room to roof one past Lack from the slot on the rush.
3rd Period
CAR Goal (0:51) – Eric Staal (8), assisted by Elias Lindholm (11), Kris Versteeg (17)
The Canes came out flying in the 3rd period, and Eric Staal gave them the lead. On a good opening shift, Lindholm hit Staal with a beautiful pass across the crease, and Staal was able to inch it past a diving Philipp Grubauer.
CAR Goal (5:16) – Jeff Skinner (15), assisted by Riley Nash (4), Victor Rask (15)
The Hurricanes weren’t done. Just a few minutes after taking the lead, Nash hit Skinner with an outstanding pass from the back of the net and through the crease, and Skinner netted his 10th goal of the month to give the Canes a 3-1 lead.
WSH Goal (14:16) – Alex Ovechkin (21), unassisted
The Capitals weren’t done either. Noah Hanifin mishandled a puck in his own end, and the league’s most dangerous scorer was right there to make him pay as Ovechkin sniped one short side on Eddie Lack.
CAR EN Goal (19:42) – Andrej Nestrasil (4), assisted by Eric Staal (16)
The Hurricanes ended things in style with a long range empty net goal from Nestrasil. He backhanded the puck from his own end of the ice, and it trickled into the Washington net, securing a 4-2 win for Carolina.
Three Stars
1st Star – Eric Staal, C (CAR) – 1 goal, 1 assist, +1, 2 shots, 3 hits, 23:04 TOI
2nd Star – Kris Versteeg, LW (CAR) – 1 assist, +1, 3 shots, 18:01 TOI
3rd Star – Eddie Lack, G (CAR) – 32 shots against, 30 saves, .938 save percentage, win
Recap
On the night before 2016, the Carolina Hurricanes rang in the New Year with their most impressive win of the season, a 4-2 win over the NHL-leading Washington Capitals, on home ice.
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A slow and choppy 1st period from both sides led the way for what was a fast paced and exciting final 2 periods.
The Canes claimed the lead in the 2nd period, but the Caps came right back and knotted things up prior to going into the 2nd intermission.
The 3rd period was very different, and the Carolina Hurricanes went out and made it their game. They netted a pair of goals prior to a gimme from Ovechkin in the slot, but instead of wallowing and feeling bad for themselves, the Canes stood up and did what they needed to do.
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Eddie Lack made big save after big save in the dying minutes of the final frame, as he did all night, and Nestrasil sent a hail marry backhander down ice from his own zone, and it went into the Capitals’ empty net.
December was a big month for the Hurricanes, and ending it with a win over the NHL’s best team was quite fitting. The Canes simply outplayed the tired Capitals, a team that played the night before in Buffalo.
Despite the circumstances for Washington, this game was about what the Hurricanes did, not what the Capitals didn’t do. The Canes were tough in all 3 zones, they took advantage of what the Caps gave them, and they were able to come together as a team and really will out a win against an extremely tough team.
The Hurricanes’ top line of Kris Versteeg, Eric Staal, and Elias Lindholm really brought it once again. They were a standout line in New Jersey despite a losing effort on Tuesday, and they followed it up with another passionate and productive outing.
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina largely kept Alex Ovechkin at bay. They allowed a goal to him on an awkward turnover from Noah Hanifin, but the Russian finished the game as a -1 with 2 giveaways. This was a key to keeping the pesky Capitals from winning the game.
Something big has changed for the Carolina Hurricanes. A month ago, the Canes could have a 2-1 or 3-1 lead in the 3rd period, but there was very little confidence from the fans or the players in finishing it out and bringing home a win. Now, when this team has a late lead, they don’t let off the gas. They play hard and they don’t let opportunities go to waste. They went 8-5-1 in the month of December, and they’re playing like an elite team right now.
Lack’s win gives him a 4-0-1 record over his last 5 starts, and tonight’s win came with his father in the crowd. He played a crucial role in putting an end to Washington’s 9-game win streak.
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The Carolina Hurricanes will now have another tall task on Saturday. They’ll stay home and take on the defensive powerhouse Nashville Predators, a team they lost to 2-1 on opening night back in October.
It’s safe to say that this Hurricanes team is much different than they were 3 months ago.