The preseason record is 0-2. The Canes' treatment room is full, although defenseman Tim Gleason (leg injury) said today he may only be out only another day or two.

But Canes coach Peter Laviolette liked some of what he saw Thursday night in a 5-2 road loss to the Washington Capitals. The Canes led 2-0 after a strong first period and the score was tied 2-2 heading into the third.

"I like the fact we showed up and played the game hard," he said today. "We executed much better, just the little simple things -- passing, getting the puck out, dump the pucks in, two-man forecheck, pucks at the net, rebounds. We fought, finished our hits."

From Talking Points:

There must be a curse on West Raleigh, because there's no way to explain State losing Russell Wilson and Nate Irving to injuries while the Hurricanes continue to hemorrhage players.

And:

I'm the first to say winning doesn't matter in the preseason. But at some point, this team HAS to build some confidence. So far, it isn't happening.

Read more here.

AP photo

WASHINGTON — Washington's irrepressible Alex Ovechkin, oozing energy, itching to play, was the first skater on the Verizon Center ice Thursday for the Capitals.

But the Carolina Hurricanes showed up with plenty of energy, too.

And fight. A lot of fight.

The Capitals won the preseason game, just as they did Wednesday night at the RBC Center. But the Canes made the Caps work — and rally — for a bruising 5-2 victory.

Rod Brind'Amour was on the ice today at the RBC Center, and this time he wasn't stationary and in sneakers.

The Canes captain was in full uniform, skating end to end, handling the puck, taking a few shots. Brind'Amour skated on his own after the team's morning practice session.

Brind'Amour is coming off arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair a cartilage tear.

A day after the lackluster 4-1 exhibition loss to the Washington Capitals, the Canes still were trying to get a handle on why they played so poorly in the preseason opener.

Forward Chad LaRose said the players seemed a bit dead-legged and slow.

"It was sort of like we were chasing pucks a lot," LaRose said today. "The first game, we didn't have our legs. But we have to put a better effort forward, too."

Canes center Eric Staal will not play in tonight's second preseason exhibition game in Washington. Staal also missed the opener Wednesday night, a 4-1 loss to the Caps.

But Canes coach Peter Laviolette wanted to make one thing clear today: Staal is not injured.

"He is not injured. HE is not injured," Laviolette said, adding the emphasis. "The way that (treatment) room is filling up already, there's really no need for him to get into these first two games. He came in as one of the top fit athletes in camp.

"I don't really know what he gains from getting in a game and getting beat up a little bit. He'll have to play some games but I think we'll try to move him in a little later in camp."

Staff photo by Chris Seward

RALEIGH — The Washington Capitals didn't need the heavy shot or scoring touch of Alexander Ovechkin in the preseason opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, winning 4-1 Wednesday before a crowd of 11,431 at the RBC Center.

Washington, the defending Southeast Division champion,
scored on two of its first three shots against Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward for a 2-0 first-period lead, and led 4-1 after two periods.

Forward Tomas Fleischmann had a pair of power-play goals for the Caps, who face the Canes again Thursday at 7 p.m. in Washington's Verizon Center.

The Canes have trimmed their training camp roster by seven players.

The team announced forwards Justin McCrae (Spokane – WHL), Samuel Morneau (Val D’or – QMJHL), Robert Slaney (Cape Breton – QMJHL), Chris Terry (Plymouth – OHL) and Brett Theberge (Peterborough – OHL), along with defenseman Michal Jordan (Plymouth – OHL) and goaltender Mike Murphy (Belleville – OHL) will join their respective junior clubs.

The roster stands at 53 players heading into tonight's preseason game with Washington.

Few guys in the Canes' locker room are more eager to get into a preseason game than Matt Cullen, and with good reason.

Cullen battled vision problems most of last season after that big hit from the New York Rangers' Colton Orr the day after Christmas. Another concussion later in the season at Chicago was another setback for the veteran center, who missed 23 games in all.

But Cullen reported for preseason training camp saying all that was behind him, that he was healthy and completely recovered. Practice sessions in training camp, he said, have only reinforced that belief.

"Everything has been good," said Cullen, who will play tonight against Washington. "It has been a good camp. I'm feeling good."

Here's one man's educated guess about the 20-man roster for the Canes' first preseason game, Wednesday night against Washington at the RBC Center.

The lines: Sergei Samsonov, Matt Cullen and Drayson Bowman; Ryan Bayda, Jeff O'Neill and Scott Walker; Chad LaRose, Brandon Sutter and Dan LaCouture; Matt Murley, Dwight Helminen and Jakub Petruzalek.

Defensemen: Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason; Niclas Wallin and Joe Corvo; Casey Borer and Brett Carson.

In goal: Cam Ward and Justin Peters.

Of note: The players not involved in the game will practice Wednesday morning. Among the lines working together: Ray Whitney, Eric Staal and Tuomo Ruutu.