Vrana, Oshie each score twice, Capitals beat Hurricanes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Jakob Vrana scored two goals, including the winner at 4:57 of the third period, in the Washington Capitals’ 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

T.J. Oshie also scored twice goals for Washington, and Braden Holtby made 28 saves. Sebastian Aho scored twice for Carolina, and Nino Niederreiter added a goal. Petr Mrazek stopped 19 shots.

It was a chippy game throughout, underscored by Washington’s Tom Wilson being assessed a 10-minute misconduct as we all as a minor for unsportsmanlike conduct with 1:17 left in the second period. Following the minor penalty taken against Carolina’s Warren Foegele, Wilson began yelling and gesturing at the Hurricanes’ bench.

Washington Capitals Jakub Vrana
Washington Capitals’ Jakub Vrana (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Capitals coach Todd Reirden told reporters after the game that a Hurricanes coach yelled at Wilson, inciting the incident. Washington and Carolina met in a seven-game, first-round playoffs series last spring that the Hurricanes won.

Prior to the game, Carolina announced that centre Jordan Staal had been named captain, and Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin were selected as alternate captains.

Jets 5, Wild 4

In St. Paul, Minnesota, Josh Morrissey scored at 1:09 of overtime to lift Winnipeg past Jets to a 5-4 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Mathieu Perreault, Adam Lowry, Jack Roslovic and Mason Appleton also scored for Winnipeg. Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit split time in net. Hellebuyck started and allowed three goals on 19 shots in the first two periods, and Brossoit made 15 saves on 16 shots in the third and overtime.

Mikko Koivu, Matt Dumba, Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello scored for Minnesota, and Devan Dubnyk allowed all five Winnipeg goals on 28 shots.

Blues @ Blue Jackets, Canceled

At Columbus, Ohio, the scheduled game preseason finale between St. Louis and Columbus was cancelled because problems with a charter plane prevented the Blues from travelling.

“We regret the inconvenience the cancellation of today’s game will cause our fans, but after discussions with the Blues there was no viable option that would’ve resulted in our being able to play the game today,” Columbus President Mike Priest said in the statement.

Added St. Louis President of Hockey Operations Doug Armstrong: “Due to an unforeseen mechanical issue with our aircraft, we are unable to travel to Columbus for tonight’s game. We apologize to the Blue Jackets and their fans for this inconvenience.”

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The Associated Press