The Carolina Hurricanes were expected to have done a good job on offense, but their opponent on Sunday came close to matching that performance in a game this weekend.

The Washington Capitals will enter their game against the Hurricanes on Saturday in Raleigh, NC following a 7-2 home win over Columbus.

The Hurricanes are on a five-game winning streak. That includes Thursday night's 8-2 win over the Boston Bruins, where the goal total was double Carolina's previous season high. The goal total represents the most by any NHL team in a game this season.

The Hurricanes scored four goals in the first period against Boston after scoring just seven total in the first eight games.

The Capitals have scored at least four goals in seven of their eight wins this season, including at least five goals in half of their 10 games.

“We’re going to get going and come out here and do it again (Sunday night),” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said Saturday.

The Capitals scored five goals in the first period against Columbus.

“I’m glad we’ve done a pretty good job so far from a goal production standpoint,” Carbery said.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has made two consecutive three-point games. It is the first time since November 2021 that he has achieved this.

Several of the Hurricanes are off to a hot start. Jack Roslovic, who is in his first season with the team, has scored six goals. He scored nine goals in 59 games for Columbus and the New York Rangers last season.

“The style of play we play,” Roslovic said. “I like playing in this system.”

Carolina forward Martin Necas has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists), well above last season's pace when he collected 53 points in 77 games.

The Hurricanes scored three power play goals in the game against Boston. They have scored at least one power play goal in six of their nine games.

“We're trying to get to the net, we're winning faceoffs, making good breakouts and we're kind of comfortable there,” Necas said. “We’re all good players there and we’re trying to make plays.”

Carolina has taken at least 31 shots in their last eight games.

The Hurricanes will likely play with Pyotr Kochetkov in net again, considering there are two full breaks on the schedule between games. Frederik Andersen, who had rotated with Kochetkov, is out with an injury that was described as “week-to-week,” leaving Spencer Martin as the other active goalkeeper.

Given Washington's success, there was a change in the roster. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun was placed on injured reserve Saturday, while defenseman Vincent Iorio was called up from Hershey of the American Hockey League.

“We want to use Vinny (Sunday) in Carolina,” Carbery said.

The Capitals will play on consecutive days for the second time this season. They defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in a home game on October 22–23.

Last season, the Capitals and Hurricanes split their first two meetings – both in shootouts – before Carolina won 4-2 in their last meeting in April.

–Field level media