Capitals 3 - 2 Hurricanes
Final
  for this game

Ovechkin ends drought as Caps clip 'Canes

Dec 27, 2010 - 6:31 AM Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin scored for the first time in nine games, and the Washington Capitals earned a 3-2 victory over Carolina for their third win in four contests.

Ovechkin added an assist, while Mathieu Perreault and David Steckel also scored as the Capitals bounced back from their shootout loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday.

"They had some chances at the end, but we hung with it and we had some good blocks tonight," Steckel said.

Jussi Jokinen and Tuomo Ruutu scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost three straight on the heels of a four-game winning streak.

"It's frustrating any time," Ruutu said. "I thought we played pretty good hockey the last couple of games, we just couldn't get enough goals."

Semyon Varlamov made 33 saves to earn the win for Washington, while Cam Ward turned aside 27 shots for Carolina.

Perreault scored at 13:33 of the first to give Washington a 1-0 lead, then left the game later in the period after colliding with Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason.

Gleason was whistled for charging, got into a confrontation with Capitals forward Matt Hendricks and was ejected on a game misconduct.

Jokinen scored Carolina's first goal at 7:32 of the second, but Washington tallied twice to re-gain the lead for good.

Ovechkin had a hand in both tallies. He picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and lost the puck, but Steckel was there to stuff it into the net midway through the period. Ovechkin scored with 1:58 left in the period after finding a loose puck on the left side.

Ruutu made it a one-goal game just 30 seconds into the third period, deflecting a slap shot from Jay Harrison past Varlamov.

But the Washington goaltender was able to keep Carolina out of the net the rest of the way.

Game Notes

No one scored on the power play. Carolina was 0-for-4 with the advantage, while Washington went 0-for-2.






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