Canes lick Caps

Archived from 1998-99 season.

Sami Kapanen's centering pass took a lucky bounce off defenseman's skate into the net with 8:32 left in the third period to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the slumping Washington Capitals.

"The guy just threw it at the net and it goes off somebody," said Washington goaltender Olaf Kolzig. "There's no way to prevent that. When it rains, it pours."

Chris Simon and Brian Bellows scored the Capitals' goals, while Kapanen, Kent Manderville and Jeff O'Neill scored for the Hurricanes. Arturs Irbe stopped 32 shots to improve to 5-2-2.

"The boys certainly gave an awesome effort tonight, keeping play away from in tight and clearing in front of the net," Irbe said. "The defensemen are really playing better."

Washington lost for the third time in a row and has a six-game winless streak. The Capitals dropped to 3-6-3 which is good fro the last place in Southeast division.

"I don't know what you can say," coach Ron Wilson said. "We find a way to lose games right now, and that's what happens when things aren't going your way. We're not getting any lucky bounces. We hang our heads if something bad happens."

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