The Washington Capitals secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in a shootout. Tom Wilson scored his 33rd goal of the season, and Pierre-Luc Dubois netted the shootout winner. Despite Carolina rallying from a 2-0 deficit and tying the game in the third period, Washington emerged victorious with goals from Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd, and Tom Wilson in the second period. Alex Ovechkin, who recently surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record, assisted on Strome’s goal.
Carolina’s Jordan Martinook and Seth Jarvis scored to force overtime, but the Hurricanes ultimately lost their fourth consecutive game. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 31 saves for the Capitals, and Brandon Duhaime and Jalen Chatfield engaged in a fight early in the game to settle a previous score.
The Hurricanes may need to consider Pyotr Kochetkov over Frederik Andersen in the playoffs due to goaltending concerns, while the Capitals are looking strong heading into the postseason. Alex Ovechkin’s recent performance has been impressive, with 23 points in his last 19 games.
The Hurricanes will face the New York Rangers next, while the Capitals will play against Columbus. Washington’s victory solidifies their position as a top contender in the Eastern Conference as they gear up for a playoff run.
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