WASHINGTON — The Carolina Hurricanes got Jeff Skinner back in the lineup Sunday, so that was a plus.
Jussi Jokinen scored a goal, his first in 25 games. Make it another plus for the Canes.
But losing to the Washington Capitals stung. And especially losing on a goal by a 20-year-old rookie defenseman who had never scored in the NHL.
The Caps emerged with a 2-1 victory at the Verizon Center, taking the lead early in the third period on Dmitry Orlov’s unlikely goal.
The Carolina Hurricanes have activated forward Jeff Skinner from the injured reserve list for today's 5 p.m. game against the Washington Capitals.
Despite missing 16 games since suffering a concussion Dec. 7, Skinner is still the team's second-leading goal scorer, according to a news release from the Canes.
But the Canes are not lacking punch on offense lately, scoring three goals in the third period last night to beat the 2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins 4-2.
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Carolina Hurricanes made quick work of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.
The Canes scored four times in the first period in taking a 5-2 victory at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Jiri Tlusty scored twice, and Tuomo Ruutu and Jay Harrison each had a goal in the opening period.
Eric Staal had three assists in the most impressive first period -- perhaps any period -- by the Canes this season.
"In the first period we were aggressive, we were on the attack," Staal said. "We were rewarded with some opportunities and cashed in. We tried to get (Tlusty) that third one but it was a good effort by our line and a good road with for us.
The Carolina Hurricanes have been without Jeff Skinner for 14 games.
They have missed Skinner’s goals, his offensive creativity. They’ve missed him on the power play, missed having him in crunch situations in games.
The Hurricanes would like to get Skinner back for Thursday night's game against Tampa Bay (7:30 p.m., FSCR), but his first game back is more likely to come after a few more contact practices, possibly Sunday on the road against the Washington Capitals
RALEIGH -- Jussi Jokinen could see nothing but net. An open net.
With the Carolina Hurricanes trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in the final seconds Saturday, Jokinen had a clear shot from the left of the net to tie the score. But Pens goalie Brent Johnson threw out his pad and got the puck with his toe, barely keeping it from crossing the goal line.
The Pens held on for the victory, handing Kirk Muller his third loss as the Canes' new coach and stretching Carolina winless streak to six games.
"Obviously it's very frustrating," Jokinen said. "You can't deny that. It has been really tough. But there's nothing you can do. You can't change the past, just (look) to the future. It's never too late to turn around the season."
WINNIPEG — The Carolina Hurricanes traveled a long way, with little rest, to play their first regular-season game against the Winnipeg Jets. They’d rather forget it.
The Jets, the newcomers in the Southeast Division, rallied from an early deficit to stop the Canes 5-3 at MTS Centre.
The Canes, at the end of a six-day, three-game road trip, jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first period but ran out of energy. That made for a long, tough night for goaltender Brian Boucher, who was making his second start of the season.
ATLANTA -- The Carolina Hurricanes have done everything they can to get in position to make the playoffs.
They've won 40 games. They have 91 points. They've recovered from some tough losses to score clutch victories.
Now, will the Canes finish it off?
RALEIGH -- The Carolina Hurricanes haven't given up. They still believe.
With Cam Ward brilliant in net with 42 saves, the Canes shut out the Detroit Red Wings 3-0 Wednesday at the RBC Center. They're now two points out of playoff position with two games remaining in the regular season.
Do the Canes still need help? Yes. They need someone to beat the New York Rangers, who are eighth in the NHL East with 91 points, two in front of Carolina (39-30-11).
"We're still sitting two points back but we did what we needed to do tonight," Ward said after his 16th career shutout and fourth of the season. "There's relief in the fact we won tonight but that doesn't mean it will get any easier. We've got to win our next two games, facing two difficult teams in Atlanta and Tampa (Bay)."
RALEIGH — Jeff Skinner remains on a roll. Jamie McBain has started one.
Skinner scored a pair of goals in the first period, his 28th and 29th of the season, and McBain added another two scores Wednesday as the Carolina Hurricanes whipped the Montreal Canadiens 6-2. Joni Pitkanen and Cory Stillman also scored for the Canes (37-30-10), who beat the Habs for the first time this season.
The Canes, who beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in a shootout Tuesday, have 84 points but remained three points out of playoff position in the NHL East as the Buffalo Sabres (87 points) beat the New York Rangers (87 points).
The Canadiens (41-30-7) got power-play goals from Mike Cammalleri and P.K. Subban. The Habs have 89 points and are sixth in the East but have lost four of their last five games.
"It was an emotional game last night in Washington," Ward said. "To be able to respond and play with the up-tempo we did tonight really speaks volumes about the character in the room. We clearly know what's at stake here. Things are looking really good."
WASHINGTON — All wins count the same, but it's hard imagining a bigger, better or more hard-earned win for the Carolina Hurricanes than the 3-2 shootout victory Tuesday over the Washington Capitals.
The Caps had won five straight over the Canes this season. They had won five straight at home in the Verizon Center and were 11-2 in March. Captain Alex Ovechkin was back in the lineup after missing three games with an injury, itching to play, and Jason Arnott also had returned.
When Alexander Semin rifled in a tough-angle shot for a second-period goal and Marcus Johansson followed with another score, the Caps led 2-1 after two periods. And Washington had been virtually unbeatable — 27-0-2 -- when holding the lead after two.
