Sonny Milano achieved his first NHL hat trick, while Alex Ovechkin continued his scoring streak as the Washington Capitals halted the Carolina Hurricanes’ five-game winning streak with a thrilling 7-6 shootout triumph on Friday night, a game that could prove crucial in their quest for the playoffs.
Ovechkin notched his 846th NHL career goal, while Milano showcased his skills by juggling the puck off his stick and batting it into the net, sparking cheers from the enthusiastic crowd in Washington, D.C. Ovechkin’s recent scoring spree, including six goals in four games, has heightened anticipation for him breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Milano’s third goal prompted fans to shower the ice with hats, capping off a back-and-forth contest. Milano described the game as “fun,” highlighting the team’s ability to keep scoring goals.
John Carlson kickstarted the Capitals’ comeback with an early third-period goal, followed by Connor McMichael’s goal shortly after, and Dylan Strome secured the victory with the lone goal in the shootout.
The win marked the Capitals’ fourth victory in five games, narrowing the gap to the playoff spots. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren played a key role in relief of starter Darcy Kuemper, who struggled, making several crucial saves down the stretch.
Despite the loss, Carolina remains a formidable opponent, with Sebastian Aho scoring a hat trick to reach 30 goals this season. However, goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov struggled, allowing six goals on 25 shots.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, playing against his former team just two weeks after being traded, received a warm reception from the crowd and expressed gratitude for his time with the Capitals.
The Capitals were without injured forwards T.J. Oshie and Aliaksei Protas, and winger Tom Wilson began serving a six-game suspension for a recent on-ice incident.
