With 44 combined shots between the Capitals and Hurricanes, something had to give. Unfortunately, it was in Carolina's favor.
Tuomo Ruutu scored his 16th goal of the season with less than a minute left to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Ruutu would break the scoreless tie and Braden Holtby's shutout streak at 19:24. Bryan Allen would send the puck hard around the end boards that somehow snuck by the Capitals' defense. Cory Stillman found Ruutu cutting through the slot and he fired a top-shelf wrist shot over Holtby's right shoulder to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead entering the second intermission.
Holtby's shutout streak ends at 155:10. Shots are 25-19 in favor of the Hurricanes.