{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Carolina 4, Washington 2
When: 7:00 PM ET, Friday, April 5, 2024
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina
Referees: Chris Rooney, Corey Syvret
Linesmen: Ryan Daisy, Ben O'Quinn
Attendance: 18853

Sebastian Aho scored the winning goal within the final two minutes as the Carolina Hurricanes tallied four unanswered goals to beat the Washington Capitals 4-2 on Friday night in Raleigh, N.C.

Jake Guentzel scored twice in a three-point performance and Martin Necas scored once for the Hurricanes (48-22-7, 103 points). Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 14 saves and Jaccob Slavin logged two assists.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice and Dylan Strome collected two assists for the Capitals (36-30-10, 82 points), who have fallen out of a playoff position due to a five-game swoon (0-4-1). Goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 41 shots.

With his team down by a pair despite generating far more opportunities, Guentzel finally put one past Kuemper at 14:30 of the second period by chasing down a bouncing puck behind the defense and chipping it home.

Only a few minutes after Ovechkin ripped a shot off the crossbar with an effort that could have restored Washington's two-goal edge, Necas tied the clash with a power-play goal at 11:40 of the third period. From just inside the left circle, Necas unloaded a one-timer off the post and in for his 24th of the season.

Aho potted the game winner with 1:51 remaining on the clock while on a power play because of a hooking penalty assessed to Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin. Brent Burns' point shot was stopped, but Aho buried the rebound for his 34th goal of the campaign.

Guentzel, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins just before the trade deadline, rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal, which gives him 27 on the season. He has a four-game point streak during which he has produced three goals and eight points.

The Capitals, who are one point out of a playoff position, received a perfect start when Ovechkin opened the scoring 3:31 into the clash. Trevor van Riemsdyk's long point shot was stopped, but the Washington captain converted the rebound.

Despite Carolina firing 18 shots on net in the first period, Ovechkin doubled the lead with 44 seconds remaining in the opening frame. John Carlsson fired another long point shot that Ovechkin deflected for his 29th of the campaign in his 173rd career multi-goal game.

With his pair of tallies, Ovechkin is up to 851 in his career, which leaves him 43 behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL's all-time record.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Washington   Carolina
Alex Ovechkin 2 Points Jake Guentzel 3
Alex Ovechkin 2 Goals Jake Guentzel 2
Dylan Strome 2 Assists Jaccob Slavin 2
N/A Power Play Goals Sebastian Aho 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Darcy Kuemper .932 Save Percentage Pyotr Kochetkov .875
Darcy Kuemper 41 Saves Pyotr Kochetkov 14
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Washington 16 2 0-3 2-4 8 25
Carolina 45 4 2-4 3-3 6 37
Upcoming Games
  • Carolina will play their next game at home against Columbus. The Hurricanes have a W/L % of .562 after a win and .724 after a loss.
  • Washington will play their next game at home against Ottawa. The Capitals have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .450 after a loss.