Capitals Triumph Over Hurricanes 7-6 in Shootout; Milano Achieves First NHL Hat Trick

Friday, March 22nd, 2024

Sonny Milano celebrated his inaugural NHL hat trick while Alex Ovechkin notched his 846th career tally, propelling the Washington Capitals to halt the Carolina Hurricanes' streak of five victories with a 7-6 win after a shootout on Friday.

Ovechkin's score edged him closer to Wayne Gretzky's legendary record, now just nine goals shy, whereas Milano's third score highlighted his skill with an impressive mid-air puck maneuver before sending it past the goalie.

Additional goals were contributed by John Carlson, Connor McMichael, and Dylan Strome, aiding the Capitals in their pursuit to overtake Detroit for the Eastern Conference's second wild-card berth.

Following the trade deadline acquisitions of Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, Carolina encountered only their second defeat since the roster changes.

For the Hurricanes, Sebastian Aho matched Milano with a hat trick of his own, and Jaccob Slavin, Brady Skjei, and Seth Jarvis also managed to score.

In his emotional return to Washington after a nine-season stint and subsequent trade, Evgeny Kuznetsov was welcomed with a standing ovation.

Facing the absence of T.J. Oshie, Aliaksei Protas, and Tom Wilson due to injuries, the Capitals looked ahead to hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, a team the Hurricanes also played in their subsequent match.

Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes Game Stats

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