Outdoor hockey in the South? Hurricanes top Capitals 4-1, at North Carolina State’s football stadium

 Martin Necas had a goal and two assists to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Saturday night in their first NHL Stadium Series outdoor game.

Temperatures hit the 70s for multiple days earlier in the week, while rain arrived to delay Friday’s practices, but conditions were optimal Saturday: clear and chilly all day, with temperatures dipping into the low 40s by the puck drop and high 30s by the final horn. 

After being delayed two years because of COVID-19 attendance restrictions, the game drew a buzzing sellout crowd of 56,961 fans. 

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Paul Stastny and Teuvo Teravainen also scored for Carolina, which completed a three-game season sweep of their Metropolitan Division foe.

The game was held at Carter-Finley Stadium, home to North Carolina State´s college football team and across the street from Carolina´s home ice at PNC Arena. 

Fans hold lighted cellphones as the lights are dimmed before an NHL hockey Stadium Series game between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes’ Teuvo Teravainen (86) shoots the puck past Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper

Tom Wilson scored midway through the third period for the Capitals, who suffered their fourth straight loss. The past three have come without captain and leading goal-scorer Alex Ovechkin, who is away after the death of his father.

Carolina finished with a 10th win in 11 games. And this one had the added significance that came with the long-awaited outdoor game – the latest chance for the league to hold one of its marquee events in a so-called ‘nontraditional’ market within its southern footprint.

The Hurricanes gave their festive crowd plenty of reasons to stay rowdy, starting with Kotkaniemi´s finish in close barely 2 minutes into the game. 

Then Carolina scored three goals in a 5 1/2-minute span of the second period to blow this one open, highlighted by Necas hammering a one-timer on the power play from the left side past Darcy Kuemper.

The flurry included Hurricane goaltender Frederik Andersen tallying an assist. On a night when he finished with 24 saves, Andersen earned a point when he lofted a long pass to Teravainen to ignite a 2-on-1 chance, with Teravainen passing to Necas, who drew Kuemper to his side and sent it back to Teravainen for the easy putaway and a 4-0 lead.

Hurricanes’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi is congratulated for his goal against the Washington Capitals

Hurricanes’ Paul Stastny, left, celebrates his goal with Jalen Chatfield, right, and Derek Stepan 

The teams followed outdoor-game tradition by arriving in coordinated and themed attire, from a comfortable afternoon on the links to a throwback to glory days on the high school gridiron.

The Hurricanes walked from PNC Arena in old-timey plaid golf knickers, matching hats and a black top over a white collared shirt with red tie. 

Defensemen Brent Burns and Jaccob Slavin were among those to complete the look by carrying a golf club.

The Capitals exited a school bus sporting blue jeans, a white T-shirt, custom lettermen-styled jackets, knitted caps and toting footballs.