Capitals 5, Hurricanes 3
Captain Alex Ovechkin recorded two goals and an assist and defenseman Mike Green tallied twice as visiting Washington overcame Jiri Tlusty's first career hat trick to topple Carolina.
Joel Ward added a short-handed goal and Nicklas Backstrom matched a career high with four assists for the Capitals, who moved within two points of the Winnipeg Jets for the lead in the Southeast Division. Braden Holtby turned aside 31 shots as the Capitals earned at least one point for the sixth time in seven games (5-1-1).
Dan Ellis allowed three goals on seven shots before being replaced by Justin Peters, who made 10 saves.
Tlusty punched in a rebound with 8:28 left in the first and sent a snap shot past Holtby on the power play just over 2 1/2 minutes later to give Carolina a 2-0 lead. Ovechkin banged one in off the crossbar with 39 seconds left in the first and Green sent a slap shot from the left point 42 seconds into the second to knot it at 2-2.
Tlusty gave Carolina another brief lead but Green sent his seventh goal in from the slot at 4:26 of the second to chase Ellis from the game. Peters was not much better, surrendering Ovechkin’s go-ahead goal glove side with 8:54 left in the second and failing to stop Ward’s wrist shot with 45 seconds remaining in the period.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Backstrom’s four-assist game was the seventh of his career and first since Nov. 11, 2010. … Hurricanes D Joni Pitkanen lost an edge and slammed into the boards late in the second period. Pitkanen, who suffered an ankle injury, had to be taken off on a stretcher. … Ovechkin has recorded a point in nine straight games.