Regular Season, Game 20: Hurricanes v. Washington Capitals

It's "Home, Sweet Home" for the Canes as they play their first home game in over two weeks when they hit the ice against Metropolitan Division rivals, the Washington Capitals, for Hockey Fights Cancer in Raleigh. It's crazy to think these two haven't played since January 13, 2020, given how close they are geographically, but they weren't in the same division last season. Washington won that last meeting 2-0 with Ilya Samsonov, today's starter for Washington, shutting out the Canes and Alex Ovechkin scored both goals. The Capitals come into this game scorching hot, having gone 8-1-1 in their last ten games and tied atop the division with 31 points with the Canes. They beat Florida 4-3 Friday afternoon, the same day the Canes beat Philadelphia 6-3. Alex Ovechkin has managed to find a new gear to start the season. He's second in the league in goals (18), tied for fifth in assists (18), and tied for second in points (36 with Connor McDavid) and all without Niklas Backstrom. As a team, Washington is third in the league in goals scored. Samsonov has not lost a game in regulation this season, going 8-0-1 in his first ten games. They're a strong team that has continued to roll even with players in COVID protocol. The Canes are sending Frederik Andersen out for the first time since the 2-1 loss in Seattle on Wednesday night and are going to be rolling in after a road trip where they won four times and picked up points in five of six. The offense broke out in a major way in the second period of the game against Philadelphia and Andrei Svechnikov finally broke a goalless drought. There are no changes to the lineup except for the change in the net, so it's the same group that got the win in Philadelphia. While it's only for one game, I'd imagine the team is happy to be at home again. Hopefully, the crowd gets into it for this afternoon game and the Canes can hold the Capitals off as they meet for the first time this season. It's a battle of heavyweights in a stacked Metropolitan Division. 

1st Period

Scoring

None

Thoughts

This was a fast-paced, playoff-like period with all of the chippiness you'd come to expect between these two teams. Sebastian Aho started the game like a man with his hair on fire, missing a wide-open net after Samsonov misplayed the puck behind the net and then hitting the post on a pass from Teuvo Teravainen. I didn't hate the Canes' first time on the power play, but the second attempt was abysmal. It looked like Aho was being assaulted at different times during the period. He took an elbow or a stick up high from John Carlson and then got held for about ten seconds by Evgeny Kuznetzov. It was a very physical period and the action felt like it was non-stop. Both Samsonov and Andersen were perfect and made some timely saves throughout the period. This going to be a fun 20 minutes coming up here after the intermission. 

2nd Period

Scoring

(WSH) 11:58- Alex Ovechkin (19) (assisted by Dmitry Orlov (8) & Tom Wilson (13))

(WSH) 12:57- Aliaksei Protas (1) (unassisted)

Thoughts

It was a bad 59 seconds for the Canes, but that's all it took for the Capitals to get on the board twice. There isn't much Andersen could've done about the first goal because Orlov makes a beautiful pass to Ovechkin at the side of the net for a tap in, but the second one was an unfortunate bounce off Tony DeAngelo that I think Andersen could've stopped, he just reacted too late. Washington logged a fair amount of zone time in the period, which is why I guess I'm not too surprised they're in the lead. The fourth line was probably the most notable for the Canes in the period. The physicality of the game continues to be its most intriguing aspect. There hasn't been a fight, but I have a feeling that could change in the third period.

3rd Period

Scoring

(CAR) 6:22- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (5) (assisted by Jordan Martinook (5) & Tony DeAngelo (16))

(CAR) 13:32- Nino Niederreiter (4) (assisted by Martin Necas (8) & Brett Pesce (6))

(WSH) 17:05- Dmitry Orlov (4) PP (assisted by Tom Wilson (14) & John Carlson (17))

(WSH) 18:19- John Carlson (5) EN (unassisted)

Thoughts

I loved the period from the Canes in the third period up until the call on Sebastian Aho that created the 5-on-3 late in the game. Kotkaniemi put the puck in the net for the second straight game and Nino Niederreiter buried a puck after the Canes didn't convert on a power play, both shots beating Samsonov over his glove. The Jarvis penalty was a hold and was a good penalty, but the jury is still out on the slash to Aho. Tripp Tracy seemed to think it was a slash, but Rod Brind'Amour disagreed strongly. I think it was 50/50 but in a game where it felt like almost nothing was getting called at times, I don't get why that's the call we're going to make. It ended up being the difference in the game and the referees should never be the deciding factor. The Canes killed the Jarvis penalty, but Orlov scored on the Aho penalty to give them the lead late and John Carlson iced it into the empty net. The Canes tried to push, but it was just not enough. 

Canes Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Jordan Martinook (Assist)

In a battle like this, you need all four lines going. Today, I thought the fourth line was one of the most notable and Jordan Martinook was a major part of that. He laid some major hits in this game and it was his hard work that led to the goal from Kotkaniemi. He's been the source of much conversation after his game on the top line, but this is a much more fitting role for him and he thrived in it today. 

Second Star- Martin Necas (Assist)

Necas was buzzing in the third period and it was his speed that helped to create the second goal for the Canes. It was largely a mistake from Lars Eller that started the situation, but Necas took it with a head of steam and he set up Niederreiter all alone between the dots. He had some chances throughout the game and almost set up Aho at the end, but the pass ended up in Aho's skates. 

First Star- Jesperi Kotkaniemi (Goal)

Building off the game he played in Philadelphia, Kotkaniemi scored for the second straight game and it was an absolute snipe. It got the Canes on the board at a point in the game where it was sorely needed. He was one of the best forwards on the ice for probably the best line for the Canes. While they did take the loss, this is an encouraging sign for a guy many have been doubting. 

Final Thoughts

There are a couple ways to take this loss. This was a playoff-like game in November against a team you have a deep-seated hatred for and they just came into your house and beat you in a game that you arguably were the better team in the third period. It came down to penalties at the end of the day and the Capitals won the special teams battle by scoring the game-winner on the power play, but you'd dominated play for the first 15 minutes of the third period. This could be a season-defining game for the team. Both of these teams are going to make the playoffs, so they could be on a collision course for a seven-game series. I didn't think the Canes played poorly through the first 40 minutes either, though the second period was a little rough. It stinks to lose to a team I really want to beat every game, but it's just one game. This is where banking points early in the season against non-divisional opponents is critical, which is what the Canes have done so far. The time at home was brief as they hit the road to play Dallas on Tuesday, so I'm interested to see how they bounce back. It'll also be the final game in November, so you'd have to think they'll want to end it on a high note.