RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals always seem to play close games.
Unfortunately for the Canes, they haven’t been able to win many of them. Not in recent seasons.
But the Hurricanes did Friday night. Jussi Jokinen scored a shorthanded and a power-play goal, and Cam Ward continued his calm, steady play in net as Carolina won 3-0 at the RBC Center.
Ward earned his second shutout of the season and the 18th of his career.
Jiri Tlusty finished it off with a goal with 30 seconds left in the game.
The Hurricanes believed they outplayed the Caps for the most part on Sunday in Washington, only to lose 2-1. It was the Caps’ third straight win over Carolina this season, and they came into the RBC Center off a 3-0 road win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.
Jokinen shorthanded goal came at 12:43 of the first after Eric Staal, on the penalty kill, aggressively knocked the puck away from Caps defenseman John Carlson in the Washington zone. Staal poked the puck to Jokinen, who skated in to beat goalie Tomas Vokoun.
Jokinen's "shortie'' -- the Canes' eighth of the season -- came after defenseman Justin Faulk was called for tripping Marcus Johansson.
The Canes had a chance to add a second shorthanded goal later in the first, after Tuomo Ruutu was called for high-sticking Carlson. Jiri Tlusty picked a loose puck out of his skates and charged the net, but Vokoun made the stop with 1:57 left in the period.
Staal was stopped by Vokoun on a shorthanded attempt late in the third.
Vokoun made some strong stops in the second before the Canes broke through late for a 2-0 lead on the power play. Vokoun stopped Jay Harrison's shot from the slot, but Jokinen whacked in the rebound with 17.7 seconds left in the period.
The power-play goal came after Caps defenseman Dennis Wideman was called for interference as Jeff Skinner carried the puck to the net. It's Jokinen's first two-goal game since a Feb. 22 game last season against the New York Rangers.
Earlier in the second, Vokoun stopped Jokinen with a terrific glove save.
Skinner was playing his third game since returning from a concussion and his first at the RBC Center. He had the home fans roaring in the first when he maneuvered the puck past defensemen Dmitry Orlov and Roman Hamrlik for a shot.
Canes goalie Cam Ward faced just eight shots in the first period, making an early save on a shot by Alexander Semin. He had 15 saves after two periods.
The Caps had their offensive chances in the second. Early in the period, Mike Knuble was looking at an open net during a scrum but banged a shot off the post. Later, Mathieu Perreault and Troy Brouwer both tested Ward with sharp shots, but Ward made the stops.
Canes defenseman Derek Joslin and the Caps' Matt Hendricks dropped the gloves and slugged it out early in the first.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
last night
Sat, 01/21/2012 - 09:11 — louis12580Funny how all the Staal bashers, "no heart", "no passion", are pretty quiet on the site today. Yes, it's only one game but he has been playing so much better of late. I felt that last night might have been his best game of the year, from beginning to end. There was a time in the third period when the team was in the Caps end and Staal had the puck seemingly on his stick the entire shift. Went hard into the boards to get the puck back all night long. Was a force on the p.k. and made the play to set up waht was to be the game winning goal by Jussi. Time for the "calling out" of the nay sayers. if you're going to pile on him, then you at least have to give him his dues from last night.
The Captain
Sat, 01/21/2012 - 10:38 — VABchCaniacI'm a Staal brasher and have to agree last night was one of his better efforts. I hope his play of late continues. Seen too many shifts and too many games where he's off and on and you never know which Staal is going to show up.
Huh?
Sat, 01/21/2012 - 06:21 — CanarseC'mon....the team is still tied for last in the conference with teams that have 3 or 4 games in hand over them. This season is over. Sure, the Canes are playing better. Part of that is Muller and part is the fact that the pressure is off. The team needs a big influx of forward skill. The only core forward I see going anywhere is maybe Ruutu. I don't think they are dying to trade him, but if he brings a good player or pick they'll do it.
Trading begins.
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 23:41 — B11656It is the nature of the beast. The trade deadline. Poni is gone, a mere few after the game tonight. He played well for us. I wish Him Well. The Canes are coming together, playing well. Maybe not all the wins We as fans would like but playing good Hockey. Maybe let's not give up quite yet. We have to win the Southeast but that is not out of the question by any means. And I hope that as We may be improving under the new Coaches, let's not break these guys up just yet. It is so obvious the team chemistry is good and just getting better. I hope JR doesn't do what He did last year and screw up the metabolism of the team. The core of the young guys within the system is strong and I think JR should focus that way for a year more......Just rambling.