RALEIGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins know what it feels like to be down 2-0 in a Stanley Cup Playoffs series.

In the last round, the Washington Capitals took a 2-0 lead to start the series. The Penguins proceeded to go on a 3-0 tear before trading blows to win the series in Game 7 in Washington.

Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik said the team never lost its confidence.

“With all due respect to the way Washington played, we kind of had the feeling that we had kind of beaten ourselves with the mistakes that we made,” said Orpik. “It wasn’t like they were doing stuff that we weren’t prepared for. … It was just mistakes that we were making. It wasn’t plays that they were making."

Staff photo by Chris Seward

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RALEIGH — The Carolina Hurricanes didn’t let up in their quest for a playoff spot.

And they especially didn't let up in the third period, breaking a 1-1 stalemate with three unanswered goals.

The Hurricanes faithful erupted with a standing ovation.

They won their third game in a row and eighth straight home contest, holding off a feisty Washington Capitals squad 4-1 at the RBC Center Saturday.

With the win, the Hurricanes earned their 85th point and held on to sixth place in the Eastern Conference. They have eight games left to play, though most of the teams they’re fighting with for a spot have games in hand.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thanks to Alex Ovechkin — who else? — the Washington Capitals finally rediscovered how to win at home.

Ovechkin moved within one goal of becoming the first Capitals player with 50 in three seasons and netted the winner in the shootout, helping his team end a four-game losing streak in Washington with a 5-4 victory over Carolina on Saturday night.

Mike Green scored his 24th goal, most among NHL defensemen, and assisted on Ovechkin's tally, while Alexander Semin has his 29th goal and three assists.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Carolina's Patrick Eaves scored twice, and the Hurricanes produced goals every which way — penalty shot, short-handed, power play, even strength — in a 5-2 victory over the Capitals on Tuesday night, Washington's second consecutive lopsided loss at home.

Eaves entered with three goals in 57 games this season, but he nearly doubled that output in a 10½-minute span of the second period against rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth, who started for Washington because Jose Theodore had the flu.

Eric Staal scored on a penalty shot, Eaves and Matt Cullen put in short-handed goals less than 4 minutes apart, Chad LaRose tallied during a 5-on-5, and Eaves' power-play goal made it 5-0 with about 2 minutes left in the second period.

Staff photo by Chris Seward

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RALEIGH — Talk about a badly needed and well-earned victory.

The Carolina Hurricanes outlasted the Washington Capitals 3-1 Sunday night at the RBC Center, giving Paul Maurice his first victory as coach -- in his second stint behind the bench -- and closing the gap on the Southeast Division leaders.

Eric Staal's goal with 4:09 left gave the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead. Ray Whitney then added a third goal -- his second of the game -- to seal a victory that trimmed the Caps' lead in the division to four points and ended a three-game losing streak.

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Staff photo by Jason Arthurs

RALEIGH — Washington's Alexander Semin tormented the Canes again. The forward, the NHL scoring leader, had two goals and three assists as the Capitals ripped the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 at the RBC Center.

The Caps (9-4-2), the Southeast Division leaders, moved two points ahead of the Canes (8-6-2), who have lost the last two games and three of the last four.

"It's not a matter of systems or any design out there," Canes forward Scott Walker said. "You have to want the puck more than they do, you have to want to get back before they get back, you have to want to get on the forecheck.

"We're just not getting it done. It's not one guy; it's everybody. We're all a step behind. It's unacceptable. We have to take a pretty long look in the mirror at ourselves."

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WASHINGTON -- It was a game that won't soon be forgotten, by either team. It also is a game that likely will be repeated every time the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals play this season -- brutally intense and physical.

The Caps won the Southeast Division battle 3-2 and did it in dramatic fashion. Alexander Semin first tied the score 2-2 with 2:43 left, then won it on a blast from the slot with 10.9 seconds remaining.

"He's one skill guy who can move both ways with the puck and be able to get a shot away pretty much every time he comes inside the blue line," Canes defenseman Niclas Wallin said of Semin.

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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.