Summary
- Carolina entered 5-1-1 with 11 points; Washington was 3-2-0.
- The Capitals won the teams’ October 2 meeting 5-2.
- Jordan Staal is out for Carolina; Washington has injury and illness concerns.
A rematch in Raleigh
The Carolina Hurricanes host the Washington Capitals at Lenovo Center on October 13 carrying a five-game winning streak into the teams’ second meeting in 11 days. Carolina’s official preview lists a 6:45 p.m. Eastern start and entering records of 5-1-1 for the Hurricanes and 3-2-0 for the Capitals. Washington won 5-2 in Raleigh on October 2, scoring three times in the first period. [1]
Carolina’s response
Since that defeat, the Hurricanes have outscored opponents 25-11, according to the club’s preview. Their latest result was a 4-1 victory at Philadelphia on October 11, achieved on the second night of a back-to-back without captain Jordan Staal. Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov each recorded a goal and an assist, while William Carrier contributed two assists. Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 18 shots and improved his personal record to 3-0-0. [1]
Absences complicate the matchup
Russian Machine Never Breaks reported that Staal has a calf tear expected to keep him out for one to two months, while Seth Jarvis has yet to make his season debut following shoulder surgery. Washington is also short-handed: Pierre-Luc Dubois, with illness, and defenseman Matt Roy, with a lower-body injury, did not travel to North Carolina. Those absences affect important positions rather than simply the clubs’ depth. [2]
Washington’s remaining decisions
Alex Tuch took part in Washington’s morning skate after missing Monday’s practice for maintenance, but coach Spencer Carbery described his status as a game-time decision, RMNB reported. The Capitals also recalled defenseman Justin Holl from Hershey after their loss to Seattle. Washington’s earlier win provides a relevant point of comparison, but Carolina’s subsequent streak and the changed availability mean the October 2 result is background rather than a forecast. [2]