RALEIGH, N.C. — Cam Ward made 31 saves, and Rod Brind’Amour and defensemen Joni Pitkanen, Anton Babchuk and Joe Corvo scored goals in the Carolina Hurricanes’ 4-1 victory over the Washington Capitals 4-1 on Saturday night.
Carolina extended its home winning streak to eight games, the Hurricanes’ longest home streak since their Stanley Cup championship season in 2005-06. Carolina beat the Southeast Division-leading Capitals for the third time this season.
Mike Green scored for Washington. He leads NHL defensemen with 28 goals.
Brind’Amour opened the scoring at 3:53 of the second period, beating Jose Theodore with a low shot from the slot. Brind’Amour has goals in five of his last eight games.
Green tied the it with 33 seconds left in the second period when he collected a lively rebound in the center of the right circle and beat Ward, who was unable to get back across the crease to defend Green’s quick release.
The Hurricanes got the winner from Pitkanen 4:42 into the third period just after killing off Brind’Amour’s hooking penalty. Pitkanen took a pass from Eric Staal as he skated in front of the crease and flipped it in with a backhander.
Babchuk scored with 6:17 left after taking a pass from Dennis Seidenberg at the top of the crease. Babchuk’s first shot was blocked, but he scored on the rebound.
Corvo’s goal came in the final minute when he cleared the puck on a penalty kill. Washington pulled Theodore for an extra skater and the net was open.
Carolina has been in a tight race for the remaining playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and will play all but two of its remaining seven games on home ice.
Notes: The Capitals lost in regulation on the road for only the
second time in their last 12 games since the All-Star break. … Ward started for a career-high 21st straight game. … Green extended his goal streak to three straight.
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