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Capitals hope to get on track versus Hurricanes

Dec 26, 2010 - 3:38 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals may have lost their last game in a shootout, but they still have some momentum heading into tonight's road game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Capitals suffered through an 0-6-2 stretch from Dec. 2-18, but then posted consecutive wins before dropping Thursday's shootout decision to a visiting Pittsburgh club.

Despite their struggles from earlier this month, the Capitals enter tonight with 45 points, tying them with Tampa Bay for first place in the Southeast Division.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are nine points out of first in the Southeast and have lost all three games against the Capitals this season, including a pair of setbacks at the RBC Center on Oct. 27 and Nov. 24. Washington has won two straight and five of nine in Raleigh and has taken six of nine overall in the series.

Washington's game Thursday at the Verizon Center was a preview of this year's Winter Classic. The Caps and Penguins will meet outdoors on New Year's Day at Pittsburgh's Heinz Field.

The Penguins earned a 3-2 decision in the first meeting of the year between the clubs on Thursday. Pascal Dupuis scored the winner in the shootout and Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to 23 games with a goal and an assist.

Mike Green and Mike Knuble each had a goal for the Capitals, while Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves in the loss.

"I think the team played well and lived up to the hype that's been going on," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau. "I think it's two really good teams going at it out there and we lost the skills competition."

The Capitals ended a three-game road losing streak this past Sunday in Ottawa and they are 7-8-1 away from D.C. this season. Washington will host Montreal on Tuesday before playing in the fourth annual Winter Classic on Saturday afternoon.

Washington has a few injury concerns heading into tonight's game as defenseman Tom Poti (head) and center Matt Hendricks (illness) are questionable for tonight. Hendricks sat out the last two games with a case of the flu and Poti was injured when he took a stick to the head against the Penguins.

Carolina, meanwhile, will try to get back on track tonight after dropping two in a row following a four-game winning streak.

The Hurricanes were dealt a 5-1 loss Monday in Tampa and then dropped a close regulation decision Thursday against the visiting Montreal Canadiens. Andrei Kostitsyn and Alexandre Picard scored during an extended power play late in the second period to lift the Habs to the 3-2 win at RBC Center.

Erik Cole scored for Carolina, but his major penalty opened the door for the Canadiens to go in front in the second, when all five of the goals were scored.

Cole was sent off for a five-minute major penalty for boarding Jaroslav Spacek, forcing the Montreal defenseman to the ice. Kostitsyn tied the game nearly 1 1/2 minutes after the extended man-advantage started and Picard's go- ahead goal came just 2:03 later.

"It was a terrible play on my part," Cole said of the penalty. "We're not even supposed to be finishing our hits. At least I was able to stay in the game and try and make up for it. There's no excuse."

Chad LaRose also lit the lamp, but his tripping penalty late in the third stopped any momentum the Hurricanes built trying for the equalizer. Cam Ward made 26 saves for Carolina.

The Hurricanes are 7-6-1 on home ice this season. Carolina will play its next two games on the road before returning to Raleigh for a home game New Year's Day against the New Jersey Devils.