Orlov Scores Twice, Necas Adds Three Points as the Carolina Hurricanes Take Down the Washington Capitals

Fresh off an 8-2 drumming of the Boston Bruins on Halloween, the Carolina Hurricanes returned to the ice at the Lenovo Center for the first of three straight division matchups. Martin Necas finished Thursday night with four points, while Jack Roslovic and Andrei Svechnikov scored a pair of goals each. The Canes welcomed the Washington Capitals, who have been red-hot to begin the season as Alex Ovechkin pursues the all-time goals record.

Pyotr Kochetkov took his third straight start, hoping to extend his win streak. While he wasn't tested much, Kochetkov was good down the stretch on Thursday against the Bruins. With Logan Thompson winning on Saturday against Columbus, Charlie Lindgren was in the net for the Washington Capitals for the second half of their back-to-back.

This game started like most others have for the Carolina Hurricanes this season. They had chance after chance in the offensive zone against Lindgren, while Washington's only chances proved to be Grade-A variety shots. Eventually, the Canes would crack the armor enough to get one into the net. Necas added to his point streak by setting up Dmitry Orlov. The defenseman walked down the boards and got enough on his shot to put it through Lindgren's glove.

Everything was going the Hurricanes' way. Then, Necas and Shayne Gostisbehere took penalties during the same sequence, giving Washington a 5-on-3. The Hurricanes almost killed them, but Alex Ovechkin was in the office. Goal #860 was a one-time laser from his spot on the power play to draw the Capitals even in the final minute. The Canes wouldn't get out of the period tied as Washington's fourth line buried a bouncing puck to steal a 2-1 lead going into the break.

Necas atoned for his penalty in the first period by tying the game on an incredible effort from his entire line. The Capitals went for a change, allowing Jesperi Kotkaniemi to spring the puck for Eric Robinson. With Robinson pushing the puck forward, Necas froze Lindgren and buried it on the backhand to knot it at two. Shortly after, the same group was on the ice to restore the lead. Necas set up Orlov for a one-time bomb to score his second goal of the night.

The Canes maintained their 3-2 lead going into the third period. Both teams completed successful kills in the first six minutes and while the Canes allowed little in the final frame, Ovechkin had a prime chance to tie the game. Busting into the zone alone, Kochetkov kept his cool and forced his fellow countryman to a low-percentage chance that he stopped. Brent Burns did an excellent job backchecking to force Ovechkin wide, too.

The best chances the rest of the way belonged to the Canes, but it wouldn't be until Lindgren abandoned his net for the extra attacker that the Canes sealed the deal. Andrei Svechnikov closed the door with the empty-netter, extending the Canes' win streak to six with a 4-2 win over the Capitals.

It's hard to know how much of it was Washington playing on consecutive nights, but this was another incredible effort from the Hurricanes. Washington's only life came during the final two minutes of the first period. Otherwise, the Canes played like the better team. Charlie Lindgren proved tough to beat after Washington fell behind 3-2, though the team in front of him had no answer for the Canes' smothering defense.

One consistent force in the recent wins has been Martin Necas. With points on the three goals in the first two periods, Necas has multi-point games in five of the last six and six of the ten games this season. He has been the epitome of consistency for the Hurricanes to open the season, jumping into the Top 10 in the league in scoring with 18 points.

It doesn't matter how good or bad it looks because Pyotr Kochetkov always seems to find a way to be clutch when called upon. He had one or two exciting moments that made us hold our breaths. Otherwise, he was locked in. The two goals he allowed weren't on him. Ovechkin has beaten many a Hurricanes goalie from that spot on the ice and the bouncing puck in the final seconds of the first period took several unfriendly hops. Kochetkov kept his composure, stopped Ovechkin a few times, and led the Hurricanes to victory.

Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, welcoming rookie sensation Matvei Michkov to Raleigh for the first time. The homestand will conclude on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins before the Canes embark on another short trip out west. That begins on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.