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Hurricanes Crush Capitals 4-1 in First-Ever NHL Stadium Series Game
Canes Score Early and Roll in Front of Sellout Crowd
The Carolina Hurricanes made history on Saturday night, defeating the Washington Capitals 4-1 in the first-ever NHL Stadium Series game at NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium. The Hurricanes scored early and often, chasing Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby from the game in the second period. Andrei Svechnikov led the way with a goal and an assist, while Teuvo Teravainen, Jordan Staal, and Nino Niederreiter also scored for Carolina.
The Hurricanes got off to a fast start, scoring just 2:33 into the game on a goal by Svechnikov. Teravainen made it 2-0 midway through the first period, and the Hurricanes never looked back. Staal extended the lead to 3-0 in the second period, and Niederreiter added an empty-net goal late in the third period to seal the victory.
The Capitals were unable to generate much offense against the Hurricanes' stingy defense. Alex Ovechkin scored the Capitals' only goal on a power play in the third period, but it was too little, too late. Holtby allowed three goals on 15 shots before being replaced by Pheonix Copley, who stopped all 12 shots he faced.
The Hurricanes' victory was a historic moment for the franchise and for the city of Raleigh. It was the first time that an NHL game had been played in North Carolina, and the sellout crowd of 56,961 was the largest ever to attend a Hurricanes game.
Conclusion
The Hurricanes' victory was a statement to the rest of the NHL. They are a legitimate contender this season, and they are not to be taken lightly. The Capitals, on the other hand, have some work to do if they want to be a serious threat in the playoffs. They need to find a way to generate more offense and improve their defense.
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