Sonny Milano net his first career NHL hat trick in the 7-6 victory, which puts the Capitals one point out of a playoff spot.
WASHINGTON — Friday night at Capital One Arena had a little bit of everything as the Washington Capitals took on the Carolina HurrixNws, incluidng an Evgeny Kuznetsov homecoming, a goalie change, dueling hat tricks, two coach’s challenges and ultimately, a shootout where D.C. emerged victorious.
Sonny Milano picked up his first career NHL hat trick and both teams ran up the scoreboard, and Dylan Strome and Charlie Lindgren played hero en route to a 7-6 shootout win.
Here are all the takeaways from the win, which puts D.C. one point out of a playoff spot.
Sonny Milano Comes Up Big For Capitals With Hat Trick
After going down 1-0 on a strange play and falling behind against the Hurricanes, the Capitals needed a boost. Milano delivered.
In the first period, Milano picked up a feed from Connor McMichael and made a nice move in tight before dishing a backhander top shelf past Pyotr Kochetkov to even the score.
He wasn't done there. In the second, he struck again on another highlight-reel move, batting a puck out of mid-air and lifting it past Kochetkov for his second of the game.
Then, in the third, Milano's shot made it past Kochetkov for his first career hat trick.
Milano's up to 13 goals this season, and his .29 goals per-game scoring rate this season is the highest of his career so far.
Strome & Capitals Battle Back For Point In Back-And-Forth Thrilled, Kuemper Pulled For Lindgren As Capitals Win Shootout
The Capitals found themselves in a back-and-forth showdown with Carolina, espeically in the second as the Hurricanes found a response for just about everything that D.C. through their way.
Washington struggled defensively, and sloppy play, bad reads and turnovers led to tough goals against.
It was also a rough night for Darcy Kuemper, who was playing just his second game of the month of March. The fourth goal and eventual game-winner from Brady Skjei took an unfortunate bounce in off his glove, and at times, he struggled with positioning and puck tracking.
Kuemper was pulled going into the third for Charlie Lindgren after giving up four goals on 22 shots. He technically surrendered six, but the Capitals won two challenges, one for goatlender interference by former friend Evgeny Kuznetsov and another for offside.
Ultimately, D.C. would battle back in a wild third period, tilting the ice and controlling the tempo. It worked in the Capitals favor, and Connor McMichael gave his eam a late lead, but Sebastian Aho responded with a hat trick of his own to force overtime.
Things ultimately went to a shootout, and after five rounds, Dylan Strome called game with the winner. Lindgren stopped all of Carolina's attempts and had seven saves on nine shots.
Alex Ovechkin & Power Play Stay Hot
After the Hurricanes reclaimed the lead following Sonny Milano's power-play goal going into the second,, the Capitals had a chance to turn the tide on another power play, and it was Alex Ovechkin who stepped up to provide.
Ovechkin got to the front and picked up a picture-perfect pass from Dylan Strome for an easy tap-in to even the game at 2, marking the team's second power-play goal of the game.
The Capitals captain now sits at 846 career goals and is 49 away from passing Wayne Gretzky for the most in NHL history.
Then, in the third, down by one again and coming off of a four-minute power play, Washington went back on the man advantage and struck once again as John Carlson rocketed home a shot from the point. Carlson now has points in four straight.
Washington went 3-for-6 and now has power-play goals in three straight games and 12 of the last 14 overall.
He wasn't done there. In the second, he struck again on another highlight-reel move, batting a puck out of mid-air and lifting it past Kochetkov for his second of the game.
Then, in the third with the game tied at 4, Milano's shot got past Kochetkov for his first career hat trick.
Milano's up to 13 goals this season, and his .29 goals per-game scoring rate this season is the highest of his career so far.
Top Shelf Takes
- Connor McMichael picked up a goal and assist and has points in five of his last six games.
- Dylan Strome had three assists and has six points in his last three games.
- Ivan Miroshnichenko also registered two assists, and he has points in three of his last four and four of his last six overall.
- Rasmus Sandin picked up an assist and has points in three straight outings.
- Evgeny Kuznetsov was honored in his first game back at Capital One Arena with an emotional video tribute. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and was visibly moved. Kuznetsov did not find the scoresheet and was stopped by Lindgren in the shootout.
- Tom Wilson served the first game of a six-game suspension for high-sticking Noah Gregor. He is not eligible to play again until April 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- With Wilson, T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom unavailable, Nic Dowd got the "A."