RALEIGH -- Erik Cole scored with 47.2 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals Sunday in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Cole's second goal of the game came on a two-man advantage. Eric Staal took a shot from the slot that tipped off Cole's stick and past Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth.
Justin Williams and Noah Babin added the Hurricanes' other goals.
Ben Clymer, Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom scored for the Capitals, who played without their top line of Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Michael Nylander.
Carolina dressed more of its top players than Washington, although captain Rod Brind'Amour didn't suit up.
Washington appeared to have the game in hand after Brent Johnson stopped all 12 shots he faced to give the Capitals a 2-0 lead through two periods. But Babin and Cole scored 52 seconds apart off Neuvirth to tie the score early in the third period.
Clymer poked a rebound past Carolina goalie Michael Leighton to give the Capitals a 3-2 edge with 2:03 remaining. But Williams sent the game to overtime when he converted a pass from Ryan Bayda with a minute remaining.
Washington 1 1 1 0 -- 3
Carolina 0 0 3 1 -- 4
First Period--1, Washington, Green 1, 18:47.
Second Period--2, Washington, Backstrom 1 (Joudrey, Bourque), 8:13 (pp).
Third Period--3, Carolina, Babin 1 (Staal, Stillman), 7:46 (pp). 4, Carolina, Cole 1 (Staal), 8:35 (pp). 5, Washington, Clymer 1 (Pollock, Boumedienne), 17:57. 6, Carolina, Williams 1 (Bayda, Letowski), 19:00.
Overtime--7, Carolina, Cole 2 (Staal, Aucoin), 4:12 (pp).
Shots on Goal--Washington 6-10-11-0--27. Carolina 4-8-17-2--31.
Goalies--Washington, Johnson, Neuvirth. Carolina, Grahame, Leighton. A--NA. T--2:24.
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