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Alex Tuch scored twice in the first period of his Washington Capitals debut, helping his new team beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on Friday, October 2, 2026. Carolina had lost its first two games, but its official record after this one was 0-1-1 because its earlier loss to Florida came in overtime.
How did Alex Tuch perform in his Capitals debut?
Tuch scored Washington’s first and third goals, both in the opening period. He opened the scoring at 6:33, finishing in front after Pierre-Luc Dubois took the puck from Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi behind the net and passed it to him. At 14:23, Tuch tapped in Tom Wilson’s shot after it trickled through Bussi.
NHL.com reported that Tuch became the second player in Capitals history to score multiple goals in the first period of his team debut. Brian Bellows was the first, doing so on March 28, 1998. Tuch joined Washington from Buffalo in a sign-and-trade on June 24, 2026, after five seasons with the Sabres, according to the Associated Press. NHL.com reported that he signed an eight-year, $84 million contract with a $10.5 million average annual value.
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Washington built a four-goal lead before Carolina got on the scoreboard. The scoring unfolded as follows, according to NHL.com’s game recap:
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| Period | Time | Team | Scorer | Score after goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6:33 | Washington | Alex Tuch | Washington 1-0 |
| 1st | 11:33 | Washington | Cole Hutson | Washington 2-0 |
| 1st | 14:23 | Washington | Alex Tuch | Washington 3-0 |
| 2nd | 1:36 | Washington | Jakob Chychrun (power play) | Washington 4-0 |
| 2nd | Not stated | Carolina | Sebastian Aho (power play) | Washington 4-1 |
| 2nd | Eight seconds after Aho | Washington | Ryan Leonard | Washington 5-1 |
| 3rd | Not stated | Carolina | Dylan Stankoven | Washington 5-2 |
Chychrun added an assist, while Dubois and Dylan Strome each had two assists. Washington goalie Logan Thompson stopped 31 shots; Bussi made 22 saves for Carolina. NHL.com’s feature also reported that Thompson stopped 14 of 15 shots while Washington was short-handed.
Why is Carolina’s record 0-1-1 after two losses?
The “0-2 start” describes Carolina losing its first two games; it is not the team’s official record format. The Hurricanes’ earlier loss to Florida came in overtime, earning them one standings point. After the regulation loss to Washington, NHL.com listed Carolina at 0-1-1: zero wins, one overtime loss and one regulation loss. The Associated Press also described the team as having lost its first two games.
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What did Tuch and coach Spencer Carbery say?
Tuch called the win “a confidence builder” and “a good measuring stick,” while cautioning that he did not think it was close to the team’s best game. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Tuch was “outstanding tonight” and “arguably the best player on the ice,” as quoted by NHL.com.
Quick Recap
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