Caps stop Carolina to gain share of Southeast lead

By Steve Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The surging Washington Capitals boosted their once-moribund chances of a postseason berth by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 on Tuesday to gain a share of the Southeast Division lead.

"It was an extremely intense game," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters after his team's fifth win in a row.

"You could tell what was at stake.

With the Capitals nursing a one-goal lead late in the second period, Alexander Semin flicked a rebound over Carolina goaltender Cam Ward to score his 25th goal of the season and stretch the lead to 3-1.

Alex Ovechkin, kept in check most of the game, scored his NHL-leading 63rd goal of the season with 3:36 left in the third period to seal the victory for the Capitals.

With his back to Ward, Ovechkin wheeled around and blasted the puck from 25 feet past the stunned netminder. The 22-year-old Russian never looked at the net before firing.

Boudreau admitted Ovechkin "struggled a little bit with his offensive touch" against the tight-checking Hurricanes but came through when it mattered.

"He had opportunities but the puck was bouncing on him or he was making an extra pass," said Boudreau. "It just goes to show you, you can't let up on that man for one second."

Despite the victory, the Capitals will still need some help if they are to make the playoffs by either winning the division or finishing at least eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Should Washington and Carolina both win their final two games, the Hurricanes will advance to the postseason due to an edge in wins.

"We have to win games," said Carolina coach Peter Laviolette.

"They're playing well. You have to assume they will win both of theirs. We have to win both of ours."

If the Capitals lose the division race, Washington will need Boston, Philadelphia, the New York Rangers or Ottawa to falter down the stretch in order to make the postseason.

"The season was on the line today," said Washington goaltender Cristobal Huet, who faced 22 Carolina shots. "They could have pretty much ended our season tonight.

"But they didn't. We're still alive."