Alex Tuch scores twice in Capitals debut as Washington tops Hurricanes

In Raleigh, N.C., Alex Tuch made an immediate impact in his first game with the Washington Capitals on Friday night. The off-season acquisition from the Buffalo Sabres scored twice to lead Washington to a 5-2 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

Alex Ovechkin opened his 22nd NHL season by picking up an assist on Tuch’s first goal during a dominant opening frame for the visitors. The Capitals built a three-goal lead in the first period and never allowed Carolina to claw all the way back.

Tuch drives early surge, Chychrun adds power-play marker

Tuch opened the scoring 6:33 into the first period, beating goaltender Brandon Bussi with a wrist shot. Washington doubled its advantage later in the frame when Cole Hutson snapped home the team’s second goal with just over eight minutes remaining in the period.

Tuch struck again less than three minutes after Hutson’s tally, this time converting on a backhand to push the Capitals’ lead to 3-0. Early in the second period, at 1:36, Jakob Chychrun cashed in on a power play to make it 4-0 and deepen Carolina’s early hole.

Hurricanes’ push falls short against Thompson

Carolina finally broke through late in the second. Sebastian Aho scored on a power play with 3:10 left in the period to get the Hurricanes on the board. The momentum was short-lived, as Ryan Leonard restored Washington’s four-goal cushion just eight seconds later, stretching the lead to 5-1.

Logan Stankoven added a second goal for the Hurricanes midway through the third period, but that was as close as they would get. Capitals netminder Logan Thompson finished with 31 saves, while Bussi turned aside 22 shots at the other end.

The result gave Carolina a second straight home loss to start the season, following a 1-0 overtime defeat to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. Washington continues its road swing Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Hurricanes head to Philadelphia to face the Flyers.