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Capitals-Hurricanes Preview

Mar 25, 2010 - 3:59 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Washington (48-14-10) at Carolina (30-34-9), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Washington Capitals are closing in on the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Carolina Hurricanes have provided some help this month.

The Capitals and Hurricanes face off for the third time in March and second time in Raleigh as Washington tries to move a step closer toward securing the conference's top seed.

The Capitals (49-14-10) increased an already-huge edge with a 4-3 shootout win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday - their fourth in five games and 21st in 27. Washington, which has a franchise record-tying 108 points, has a 17-point advantage over the second-place Penguins.

Barring an epic collapse, the Capitals will have home-ice advantage throughout the East playoffs. Buffalo and New Jersey each have 90 points with 10 games remaining and could technically catch Washington, which has nine contests left.

Doing so, though, would be almost impossible given how well the Capitals are playing. Mike Knuble scored the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout Thursday after recording the first goal of the night.

"It was mentally a very important win for us," said Alex Ovechkin, who had an assist in regulation and a shootout goal. "We know they have a very good team."

Ovechkin was serving a two-game suspension when Washington lost 4-3 in overtime to Carolina in Raleigh last Thursday, but he had seven assists in the previous four meetings with two coming in a 4-3 win on March 10. The Capitals have taken seven of a possible 10 points against their Southeast Division rivals this season.

Ovechkin has a 13-game point streak against Carolina, recording four goals and 19 assists. The two-time Hart Trophy winner has four goals and nine assists during a seven-game run in Raleigh

Carolina (30-34-9), meanwhile, has lost two straight putting its remote playoff hopes further in jeopardy. The Hurricanes will also be without a key player for the remainder of the season.

Tuomo Ruutu will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery for an injury suffered in January. He missed 15 games before returning, but the shoulder has continued to bother him.

"He's been dealing with this since he came off rehab," coach Paul Maurice said. "It got to the point where he can't come close to playing the game he needs to play."

Ruutu, who won a bronze medal with Finland at the Olympics, finishes with 14 goals and 21 assists in 54 games. He'll especially be missed against the Capitals, whom he's recorded two goals and three assists against this season.

The loss of Ruutu came a day after a 3-2 overtime loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The Hurricanes led 2-1 after two periods, but gave up the tying score with less than seven minutes remaining in the third, then allowed the winning goal 29 seconds into the extra session.

The Hurricanes went 13-3-1 from Jan. 24-March 11, but they have gone 2-3-1 since. They trail eighth-place Boston by nine points with nine games remaining.

Carolina isn't the only team that will be without a key player Thursday. Brooks Laich, who has 24 goals and 32 assists for Washington, is expected to miss his second straight game after being struck near the eye by a puck during Thursday's practice.