Tuch scores twice in ‘outstanding’ debut for revamped Capitals

RALEIGH, N.C. – Alex Tuch was understandably nervous.

Playing his first game with the Washington Capitals after signing a big contract in the offseason, Tuch wanted to make a good first impression. By the end of the first period of the Capitals’ 5-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, Tuch had scored two goals, those pregame jitters were long gone and there was joking on the bench about his contract being a bargain.

It was only one game, but it was a dream start the season for Tuch and the Capitals, taking down the reigning Stanley Cup champions in their own building.

“It's a confidence builder for sure,” Tuch said. “It's a good measuring stick. Going forward, we're going to have to hold ourselves to a high standard. I don't even think it was close to what's going to be our best game. 

“I don't think it was a perfect game by any means.”

It was a near perfect beginning to Tuch’s Capitals’ tenure, though, after he was acquired in a sign-and-trade deal with the Buffalo Sabres on June 24. Before the trade was completed, the 30-year-old forward signed an eight-year, $84 million contract ($10.5 million average annual value). 

After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, the Capitals were among the NHL’s most aggressive teams this off-season, adding two three-time 30-goals scorers in Tuch and forward Jordan Kyrou (trade with St. Louis Blues), versatile forward Boone Jenner (signed four-year, $23 million contract; $5.75 million AAV) and stay-at home defenseman Vincent Desharnais (signed four-year, $16.8 million contract; $4.2 million AAV). 

With captain Alex Ovechkin, the NHL record-holder with 929 career goals, returning for a 22nd season after signing a one-year contract, Washington hopes to add another Stanley Cup championship to the one he led them to in 2018. As deep and impressive as the Capitals revamped lineup looked on paper, though, they weren’t sure how quickly all the new pieces would fit together.

Opening the season against the Hurricanes, who raised their 2026 Stanley Cup banner before a 1-0 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers in their season opener on Tuesday, provided an immediate test. 

“You never know how it's going to look, all the additions, the new mix of guys,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “You're confident. You feel like we’ve got a really good team here and a lot of really good players. We made some moves to bring in some significant guys this off-season, but you still don't know how it's going to look when the puck drops.”

The initial reviews were excellent. The Capitals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 14:23 with two goals from Tuch and one from rookie defenseman Cole Hutson.

Tuch opened the scoring 6:33 into the game after Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi misplayed a dump-in by Ovechkin behind the net. Pierre-Luc Dubois raced in to steal the puck from Bussi and slide it in front to Tuch, who fired it into the vacated net.

“First couple shifts, you get a little nervous,” Tuch said. “You keep it simple. … Getting that first one, definitely good feeling. Obviously empty net, so that's a nice treat.”

Rookie center Ilya Protas set up Hutson for a shot from the inner rim of the left circle that went in past Bussi’s glove to make it 2-0 at 11:33. Tuch struck again at 14:23, sweeping the puck over the goal line on his backhand after Tom Wilson’s shot from the above the left circle trickled through Bussi.

“I don't think I’ve scored many of those goals in my career,” Tuch said. “That was really nice. Great play by ‘Dubie’ on the forecheck there. And then, obviously, Dubie and ‘Willie’ there on the other one. I might have been able to let that one go in, but I wasn't taking any chances. It was a little slower than I wanted it to be, so I made sure it was in the back of the net.”

Tuch is only the second player in team history to score multiple goals in the first period of his Capitals debut, joining Brian Bellows (two on March 28, 1998). After Tuch’s second goal, Carbery heard someone make a joke about his contract.

“I don't know who said it, but someone said something on the bench after his first two goals of like, ‘We got you on a discount.’ or something like that,” Carbery said. “I had a pretty good chuckle on that. But yeah, any time a player comes to a new organization, a new team, it's important. You want them to get off to a good start, and that was exactly what ‘Tucky’ (had). 

“And I thought he was outstanding tonight. I thought arguably the best player on the ice.”

It wasn’t only Tuch, though. Just as they envisioned during the offseason, the Capitals got contributions from throughout their lineup. 

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun had a power-play goal and an assist, forward Ryan Leonard also scored a goal and Dubois and Dylan Strome each had two assists. 

Jenner was a big contributor on the penalty kill, which faced six consecutive Hurricanes power plays during a stretch that bridged the second and third periods, and in the face-off circle (13-4). Goalie Logan Thompson was a difference-maker as well, stopping 31 of 33 shots, including 14 of 15 when Washington was short-handed.

“I think that's the expectations of our group,” Thompson said. “We’ve got four deep lines, and I think we showcased well a lot of depth tonight. For our first game, going against the defending Stanley Cup champs, that was not an easy one, but I thought we stuck together and grinded it out.”