Hurricanes shut out Capitals in East playoff series

Warren Foegele and Dougie Hamilton each scored two goals as the Carolina Hurricanes, despite being down to 10 forwards for most of the game, trounced the visiting Washington Capitals 5-0 in Game 3 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series Monday at Raleigh, N.C. It was the first home playoff game in 10 years for the Hurricanes, with PNC Arena full of energy.

The Capitals hold a 2-1 series lead going to Game 4 on Thursday night in Raleigh. Carolina goalie Petr Mrazek stopped 18 shots for his fifth career playoff victory -- four of them shutouts.

Foegele scored the first two goals, then Hamilton posted a power-play goal for Carolina, which overcame a couple of injuries. Hamilton and Brock McGinn also scored in the third period, with Foegele assisting on Hamilton's tally. Jaccob Slavin and Jordan Staal had two assists apiece, and McGinn also had a two-point night. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby made 40 saves.

Washington, the defending Stanley Cup champions, had won six straight postseason games dating to last season. Hurricanes rookie Andrei Svechnikov exited after he was dropped by a first-period punch from Alex Ovechkin. Svechnikov, who hit the back of his head as he fell to the ice, appeared to be knocked out.

The fight came shortly after Carolina scored for a 1-0 lead. The fighting majors were the first penalties called in the game, coming 10:59 into the contest. Svechnikov scored the two Carolina goals in Game 1.

The Hurricanes also lost winger Micheal Ferland to a first-period upper-body injury. Foegele's first goal came right before the midway mark of the first period, giving the Hurricanes a lead for the first time in the series. Foegele deflected in a shot from defenseman Justin Faulk.

Foegele tallied again at 6:09 of the second period, set up for the deposit on a pass from Sebastian Aho. The Hurricanes had the first 15 shots of the second period, already scoring twice in the period among the first 13 of those. Washington's only shot of the period came after 15 minutes elapsed, with Carolina holding an 18-1 edge in shots for the period. That was the fewest shots in a period allowed by the Hurricanes in franchise postseason history.

(With inputs from agencies.)