Orlov gets 2 goals, Hurricanes top Capitals for 6th win in row

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Dmitry Orlov scored twice, and the Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-2 victory against the Washington Capitals at Lenovo Center on Sunday.

A second-round pick (No. 55) in the 2009 NHL Draft, Orlov played for the Capitals from 2011-2023. He helped Washington win the Stanley Cup in 2018.

“It’s not easy mentally and emotionally,” Orlov said of facing the Capitals. “I respect them as human beings and players. It’s special, and it’s an important win for us.”

Martin Necas had a goal and two assists for the Hurricanes (8-2-0), who have won eight of their past nine. Pyotr Kochetkov made 19 saves in his fourth straight win.

“(Washington) did play last night, and they played pretty hard,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “But I give the guys credit. We came with a pretty good game plan on it, and I thought we stuck with it.”

Alex Ovechkin scored in his fourth straight game, and Brandon Duhaime also scored for the Capitals (8-3-0), who had won three in a row and were coming off a 7-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Charlie Lindgren made 41 saves.

“The game’s not close, but we give our guys credit. We didn’t pack it in. We fought,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “We were in our end for probably, whatever it was, 75 percent of the game. We couldn’t break a puck out, couldn’t get through the neutral zone, couldn’t forecheck”

Orlov gave the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead at 14:01 of the first period, scoring on a wrist shot near the left face-off dot past Lindgren’s glove.

Ovechkin tied it 1-1 at 19:16 during a 5-on-3 power play with a one-timer off a pass from John Carlson in the left circle. Carolina had killed 1:45 of minor penalties to Necas and Shayne Gostisbehere before the goal.

Ovechkin has 860 career goals, 34 behind Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894.

“He’s one of the best goal scorers in the League,” Orlov said. “He’s a legend, it’s nice for him. It [stinks] that he scored today, but he’s chasing the record. I’m happy for him.”

Duhaime gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead with 11 seconds remaining in the period. Kochetkov made a save on Nic Dowd, but the rebound deflected off Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin and fell in the crease, where Duhaime tapped it in.

Necas tied it 2-2 at 2:29 of the second period. Eric Robinson took a stretch pass from Jesperi Kotkaniemi and fed the puck to Necas, who drove to the net and scored on the backhand.

“That’s what he does,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s got that ability because his skating is so good. You can definitely see the confidence in him, but I think he’s doing other things right too.”

Orlov put Carolina back ahead 3-2 at 5:26, roofing a one-timer from the right point.

"‘Orlie’ can shoot a hockey puck. He’s got a heavy shot,” Lindgren said. "It came in hot and the puck was moving a bit. You go back, and both of (his) goals, I wish I had. The first one, I’m scratching my head. I’m like, ‘How did it go in and not in my glove?’ It just doesn’t make sense. But that’s hockey.”

Andrei Svechnikov scored an empty-net goal with nine seconds left in the third period for the 4-2 final.

Kochetkov faced eight shots in the third, including a right-pad save against Ovechkin early in the period.

“Sometimes you feel the game when (there aren’t) a lot of pucks,” Kochetkov said. “Today I felt not bad. I had a lot of support.”

NOTES: Ovechkin has nine points (five goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak. … Carolina’s eight victories are the second most in franchise history through its first 10 games of a season (9-1-0 in 2021-22). …The Hurricanes have scored at least three goals in nine straight games. … Necas has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in a six-game point streak. … Svechnikov has seven points (four goals, three assists) in a four-game point streak.