WASHINGTON, D.C. - Insert "Alexander Semin cares" joke here.
Semin scored the Capitals' first goal of the season late in the second period and Jason Chimera added another with under a minute left to give the Caps a 2-1 lead over the Hurricanes after 40 minutes.
The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead on the power play after John Carlson tripped Tuomo Ruutu. Eric Staal took the puck into the zone and dropped it off at the right point for Tomas Kaberle. Kaberle then sent a cross-ice pass to a cutting Jussi Jokinen. Staal, who initiated the play, rolled down the right side of the ice and the Caps left him open for a one-timer from Jokinen that Michal Neuvirth had no chance to stop at 12:16.
Carlson, however, atoned for his sin just over two minutes later when he made a two-line breakout pass to Semin, who was all alone to put a backhand past Brian Boucher for his first goal of the season at 14:28. Chimera scored his first when he used his speed to blow by two Hurricanes defensemen and got enough space to put a wrist shot past Boucher at 19:39.
Visit Japers' Rink to talk about the game with fellow Capitals fans. For more on the Hurricanes, visit Canes Country.