Capitals at Hurricanes
The top line of captain Eric Staal, Jiri Tlusty and Alexander Semin is the biggest reason the Carolina Hurricanes are in control of the Southeast Division. In order to stay there, Carolina will need its backup goaltenders to continue their stellar play. The Hurricanes will try to sweep a home-and-home series when they face the visiting Washington Capitals on Thursday.
Carolina, which leads Winnipeg by three points with a game in hand in the Southeast, has gone 3-1-0 since goaltender Cam Ward went down with a knee injury. Justin Peters and Dan Ellis have filled in admirably for the 2006 Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Peters earned his second career shutout in the Panthers' 4-0 victory at Washington on Tuesday and has won two of three games in Ward's absence. The Capitals have lost three straight to plummet 10 points behind Carolina.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NHL Network (United States), CSN DC (Washington), FSN Carolinas
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (10-14-1): The two-game set with the Hurricanes presented a golden opportunity for Washington to climb back into the Southeast race, but Tuesday's loss left it with the second-fewest points in the NHL - only better than Florida (20). The Capitals' struggles have coincided with the play of their slumping captain. Alex Ovechkin hasn't recorded a point in three games and Washington is 2-9-1 when he doesn't find the scoresheet. Ovechkin hasn't scored a goal in nine straight games against the Hurricanes and has one assist in his last five. Washington is banged up on defense with John Erskine (upper body) and Mike Green (groin) likely to remain out of the lineup Thursday.
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (15-9-1): Tlusty (13), Staal (12) and Semin (seven) have combined for better than 40 percent of the team's goals. Equally impressive is their collective plus/minus total, which is plus-56 (Staal is plus-20, Semin plus-19, Tlusty plus-17). “When you’ve got your top line playing a good two-way game and capable of playing against any other top line or a defensive line when you go on the road, it’s a nice sign,” coach Kirk Muller told the team's website. “They’ve been a great line leading us right now, and it’s a big bonus for our hockey club.” Ward could be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.
OVERTIME
1. Ovechkin has been held without a shot on goal six times in 578 career games. Two of those outings have come in last eight games - both against the Hurricanes.
2. Carolina has converted just 13.8 percent of its power plays. It is 2-for-26 in its last eight games.
3. Washington rookie D Steve Olesky and Carolina LW Drayson Bowman squared off Tuesday in the first career fight for both.