RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Ray Whitney made the
Washington Capitals' 11th penalty the most costly.
Whitney scored his second goal of the game with 85 seconds left
in overtime and Josef Vasicek collected a career-high four
points in his return to the lineup as the Carolina Hurricanes
posted a 6-5 victory over the Capitals.
With 2:09 remaining in overtime, Washington's Chris Clark took a
tripping penalty. Less than a minute later, Whitney made him
pay as he blasted a slap shot from the left faceoff circle past
netminder Martin Gerber.
The team's leading scorer in 2003-04, Vasicek tore several knee
ligaments on November 11 at Florida and underwent knee surgery
on December 5. The 25-year-old was activated from injured
reserve prior to the game and returned to the ice in impressive
fashion with two goals and two assists.
Vasicek gave Carolina a 3-2 lead just under seven minutes into
the second period and snapped a 4-4 tie midway through the third
period.
However, Washington's Rico Fata tallied with 4:33 remaining to
forge a 5-5 tie, setting the stage for Whitney's game-winner.
Captain Rod Brind'Amour and Justin Williams also scored for the
Hurricanes, who avenged two losses to the Capitals in the last
nine days.