Capitals 5, Hurricanes 2

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.

A goal by center Michael Nylander, his second of the game, at 2:20 of the third period was the winner for the Caps. Ovechkin, who did not play in the preseason opener, scored on a penalty shot and power play for Washington after assisting on Nylander's first goal.

With the Canes leading 2-0 late in the opening period, Ovechkin tried to collect the puck along the boards. But along came defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, putting the body into Ovechkin and putting the Caps' star on his back.

Carolina, lethargic in a 4-1 loss in the preseason opener Wednesday, fought for pucks, worked hard for offensive chances and were physical.

The Canes, with most of their regulars back in Raleigh, took advantage of power-play opportunities in the opening period and starting goaltender Michael Leighton was solid.

Dan LaCouture, a free-agent forward trying to make the Canes' roster, scored the first goal on the power play after an active Brandon Sutter drew a tripping penalty. Ryan Bayda made it 2-0 at 11:03 of the first with a second power-play score, hammering a shot past Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth.

The Caps cut it to 2-1 early in a chippy second period on a Nylander power-play goal, then forced a 2-2 tie on Ovechkin's penalty shot.

Ovechkin scored easily against goalie Daniel Manzato, who had replaced Leighton with eight minutes left in the period and the Canes leading 2-1.

Moments later, the fight club was in session. First, the Canes' Nicolas Blanchard squared off with the Caps' Joshua Godfrey.

Then, it was Carolina's Wade Brookbank and Patrick McNeill, two heavies who both threw haymakers.

The teams combined for 16 penalties in the second period, eight on each team, and the skirmishes seemed to drain the Canes.

Eric Staal didn't play for the Canes. Or Joni Pitkanen. Or Ray Whitney, Sergei Samsonov, Scott Walker or Matt Cullen.

Staal, the Canes' star center, didn't suit up for the preseason opener, either. But unlike Rod Brind'Amour, Tuomo Ruutu, Whitney or Gleason, Staal isn't injured.

''The way that (treatment) room is filling up already, there's really no need for him to get into these first two games,'' Canes coach Peter Laviolette said. ''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.''

What the Canes brought to the Verizon Center was veteran defenseman Frantisek Kaberle and a team with an average age in the mid- to  low-20s -- Sutter and Drayson Bowman, Stefan Chaput and Mark Flood. That type of team.

Sutter centered the line of Bayda and Patrick Eaves. Average age: 23. So it went as the Canes' staff took a closer look at younger players.

The Caps countered with Ovechkin, the NHL's scoring leader last season. Also on the ice were winger Alexander Semin, defenseman Mike Green and other key members of last year's Southeast Division champions.

The Canes travel to Philadelphia on Saturday for its next exhibition game. The Hurricanes and Flyers will face off in the Wachovia Spectrum -- the Flyers' home arena from 1967 to 1996 -- in what should be a game filled with nostalgia for Philly fans.