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Fleischmann scores twice to lead Capitals over Hurricanes

Sep 25, 2008 - 2:20 AM RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Tomas Fleischmann scored two goals and Viktor Kozlov added a pair of assists as the Washington Capitals opened up their preseason with a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.

Simeon Varlamov, one of the Capitals' top prospects, stopped all 20 shots he faced in the first period before Daren Machesney made 10 saves over the final two sessions. Drafted 23rd overall in 2006, the 20-year-old Russian signed a three-year contract with Washington last July.

The Capitals jumped to an early lead against their Southeast Division rivals, scoring twice in a 64-second span less than eight minutes into the game to take control. Fleischmann got things going on the power play with a wrist shot from close range that beat netminder Cam Ward, and Matt Bradley maneuvered through three defenders and drilled a shot just inside the left goalpost shortly thereafter to make it 2-0.

The Hurricanes scored their lone goal on a power play eight minutes into the second period, as defenseman Joni Pitkanen beat Machesney with a 54-foot slap shot to halve the deficit.

However, Mathieu Perreault gave the Capitals some breathing room four minutes later, finding the puck in the midst of heavy traffic in front of the net and poking it in for a 3-1 lead. Fleischmann capped the scoring with 2:54 left in the second with a man-advantage goal.

Ward allowed two goals on 13 shots before being replaced by Justin Peters, who made 17 saves for Carolina.