Game Recap – 1st Rd. Game 6 – Washington Capitals v. Carolina Hurricanes

Washington Capitals v. Carolina Hurricanes

Capitals Lead 3-2

 

Game Recap:

The Washington Capitals enter Game 6 looking to earn their first road win of the postseason as they also look to close out their series against the Hurricanes in Carolina. The Capitals would not need long as Brett Connolly would net his second of the playoffs when he would recieve a behind the night pass from Lars Eller, and Connolly would move to the front of the net area and roof over Petr Mrazek’s glove to make it 1-0. Then after a failed powerplay attempt, the Hurricanes would take advantage of a bad line change by the Capitals as Warren Foegele would score his fourth of the playoffs to tie the game at one. However, the Capitals would regaim the lead as Alex Ovechkin would dangle past a sliding Jaccob Slavin then rip the puck past Mrazek to make it 2-1 going into the second intermission.

 

Going into the second period the Hurricanes would force the play in the Capitals zone, and after slashing Jonas Siegenthaler in the hands Sebastian Aho would do a nice dish to Teuvo Teravainen who would score his second of the playoffs to tie the game at two. As the period went on the Capitals would get two powerplay opportunities, but poor entry decisions would cost the Capitals on both powerplays.

 

In the third period the Capitals would try to force the rush, but the Hurricanes would suffocate the Capitals and with the puck bouncing around in the slot area Jordan Staal would get the puck past Bradem Holtby to give the Hurricanes the lead for the first time in this game and also create the first lead change all season. Then the Capitals wouldvforce some good pressure to where they thought they scored, however, the goal would be waved off due to Alex Ovechkin’s contact with Petr Mrazek that pushed the puck in the net. Shortly after Justin Williams would tip a point shot from Brett Pesce past Braden Holtby to increase their lead to 4-2. Then on a very moronic decision by head coach Todd Reirden, Dougie Hamilton would score an empty net goal to ice this game and force a Game 7 with a 5-2 victory.

 

Lineups:

Washington Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin — Nicklas Backstrom — Tom Wilson

Jakub Vrana — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Carl Hagelin

Andre Burakovsky — Lars Eller — Brett Connolly

Chandler Stephenson — Nic Dowd — Devante Smith-Pelly

Jonas Siegenthaler — John Carlson

Dmitry Orlov — Matt Niskanen

Brooks Orpik — Nick Jensen

Braden Holtby

Pheonix Copley

Scratched: Christian Djoos, Travis Boyd, Dmitrij Jaskin, Parker Milner

Injured: Michal Kempny (torn left hamstring), T.J. Oshie (clavicle)

 

Carolina Hurricanes:

Nino Niederreiter — Sebastian Aho — Teuvo Teravainen

Brock McGinn — Jordan Staal — Justin Williams

Warren Foegele — Lucas Wallmark — Jordan Martinook

Saku Maenalanen — Greg McKegg — Patrick Brown

Jaccob Slavin — Dougie Hamilton

Brett Pesce — Justin Faulk

Calvin de Haan — Trevor van Riemsdyk

Petr Mrazek

Curtis McElhinney

Scratched: Haydn Fleury, Clark Bishop

Injured: Andrei Svechnikov (concussion), Micheal Ferland (upper body)

 

First Period:

Capitals Goal – 5:06 – Brett Connolly (2) from Lars Eller (2) and Andre Burakovsky (1)

Capitals Penalty – 8:30 – Nic Dowd 2 minutes for Hooking

Hurricanes Goal – 10:35 – Warren Foegele (4) from Dougie Hamilton (3) and Jaccob Slavin (6)

Capitals Goal – 15:12 – Alex Ovechkin (4) from Dmitry Orlov (3) and Matt Niskanen (2)

 

End of 1st – WAS – 2       CAR – 1

Shots              07                15

Faceoffs         11                14

Hits               18                  20

PP                 0/0                 0/1

 

Second Period:

Hurricanes Goal – 1:56 – Teuvo Teravainen (2) from Sebastian Aho (3)

Capitals Penalty – 2:36 – Tom Wilson 2 minutes for Slashing

Hurricanes Penalty – 7:58 – Justin Williams 2 minutes for High Sticking

Hurricanes Penalty – 15:36 – Nino Niederreiter 2 minutes for High Sticking

Hurricanes Penalty – 19:29 – Jordan Martinook 2 minutes for Holding

Capitals Penalty – 19:29 – Dmitry Orlov 2 minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

 

End of 2nd – WAS – 2        CAR – 2

Shots               13                 24

Faceoffs          17                 26

Hits                 37                  30

PP                   0/2                  0/2

 

Third Period:

Hurricanes Goal – 3:51 – Jordan Staal (2) from Brock McGinn (2) and Justin Faulk (3)

Capitals Penalty – 6:15 – Chandler Stephenson 2 minutes for Tripping

Hurricanes Goal – 11:58 – Justin Williams (1) from Brett Pesce (1) and Jordan Staal (3)

Hurricanes ENG – 16:54 – Dougie Hamilton (3) from Jordan Martinook (2)

Capitals Penalty – 18:52 – Alex Ovechkin 2 minutes for Slashing

Capitals Penalty – 18:52 – Alex Ovechkin – Misconduct

 

End of 3rd – WAS – 2         CAR – 5

Shots              25                   36

Faceoffs        28                    38

Hits               45                     38

PP                 0/2                    0/4

 

Next Up:

Game Seven – Series Tied 3-3

 

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