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Backstrom helps lifts Caps to 4-1 win in his season debut

Carolina center Jeff Skinner’s goal midway through the third period pulled the Hurricanes (1-4-0) to within 2-1, and Ward, playing his second game in two nights, made 30 saves.

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The Caps were a ideal 2-2 on the man advantage, getting power play markers from Oshie and Carlson.

Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) chases the puck against Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Noah Hanifin (5) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, October 17, 2015, in Washington.

The Caps out scored the Canes 3-1 in the final period.

The Capitals showed their killer instinct in the third period, tacking on three goals on the Hurricanes. That cut the lead to 2-1. Sidney Crosby did not register a point for the fifth consecutive game, his longest stretch to start a season.

Olli Maatta made it 2-0 less than a minute later, making it look like Bernier might be yanked quickly from this start after lasting just 20:20 minutes in his last game.

Montreal’s power play came to life to lift the Canadiens to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Bell Centre.

James Neal scored the decisive goal in a shootout as the Nashville Predators defeated the Ottawa Senators 4-3 at the Canadian Tire Center.

Ward is now 1-3 for the season and has a. 867 save percentage. Backstrom picked up his first assist of the season on that goal. He appeared in every one of Washington’s contests in six of his first eight seasons with the club since being selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft. Williams registered 201 points (81 goals, 120 assists) in 265 games with Carolina from 2003-09….

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It was the second straight win for Boston (2-3-0). Mike Smith stopped 38 for Arizona.

NickWass