Struggling Caps downed by Carolina 5-0
Posted on February 21, 2012Washington suffered a humbling 5-0 loss at Carolina Monday against the Hurricanes, dropping Dale Hunter's team to a 1-2-0 mark on the current four-game road trip. Carolina scored three times in the first period to take an early and commanding 3-0 lead. Justin Faulk started the barrage with his sixth goal of the season, on a rebound try in front of Tomas Vokoun at 3:41. Vokoun was then pulled at the 5:09 mark when Anthony Stewart scored on an odd-man rush, with help from Eric Staal, making the score 2-0. Michal Neuvirth came on in relief and allowed a goal at 19:30 from Andreas Nodl, an odd-man rush that broke a 23-game goalless drought for the Carolina forward. Eric Staal scored a short-handed goal in the second period at 5:56, a goal that tied him with former Hartford Whalers great Dave Tippett for most short-handed goals in franchise history. Staal's 11th of his career down a man made the score 4-0, a score that held through the end of two. Staal would also add his second of the night at 5:51 of the third period to round out the scoring. The Capitals will practice Tuesday in Raleigh before flying to Ottawa to face the Senators Wednesday at Scotiabank place. The game in Kanata, Ontario is the final game of the current four-game road trip. Washington will host Montreal Friday night at Verizon Center before flying to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs Saturday evening at Air Canada Centre. The appearance for Peters was just his fifth for Carolina this season, and his first against Washington. Dmitry Orlov missed the game due to illness. Nicklas Backstrom missed his 21st consecutive game with an upper body injury.
