Ovechkin out for a week

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Walker to miss 4 to 6 weeks

Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday and will be sidelined four to six weeks, the team said.

With forward Sergei Samsonov also sidelined with an upper-body injury, the Hurricanes on Tuesday recalled forwards Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty from the Albany River Rats of the AHL. Boychuk and Tlusty were called up Saturday by the Canes and played in a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers, then were reassigned to Albany.

Canes coach Paul Maurice said neither forward Erik Cole (upper-body injury) nor Chad LaRose (lower-body) would be able to return to practice this week. LaRose may start skating next week, Maurice said.

Recap: Washington vs. Nashville

Alex Ovechkin tallied twice in regulation and got the lone goal in the shootout as Washington edged Nashville, 3-2, at Verizon Center.

Ovechkin picked up a score on the backhand after multiple stick fakes to open up the second round, then Washington goaltender Semyon Varlamov stood by as David Legwand missed his chance. Brendan Morrison failed on his backhand try for Washington, then Varlamov stopped a forehand attempt by Martin Erat to close out the game.

Varlamov made 22 stops in regulation for the Capitals, who have won two in a row after dropping four straight.

Gleason getting better

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason was back practicing with the team at the RecZone on Thursday after missing two practices and a game earlier this week.

In last Friday's 4-3 overtime loss, Gleason was knocked out when he took a puck to the face on a shot from Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin.

It was the second time this season that Ovechkin has sidelined Gleason, but just like the kneeing incident last month that got Ovechkin suspended for a pair of games, Gleason returned to the contest. Wearing 30 stitches to the right of his eye and an oversized visor, Gleason tied Friday's game in his return with a short-handed goal that led to the Hurricanes earning a point.

Florida Panthers (5-8-1) at Washington Capitals (9-3-4), 7 p.m.

Despite a rash of injuries, the Capitals were able to notch a victory over the Panthers last night. Washington hopes for a sweep of the home-and-home set this evening when it hosts Florida at Verizon Center.

Playing for a second straight game without Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals also lost Mike Green (undisclosed) and Jeff Schultz (lower body) to injury last night. However, thanks to 28 saves from Jose Theodore as well as a goal and two assists out of Brian Pothier, Washington notched a 4-1 victory to halt a three-game losing streak.

Brendan Morrison tallied twice and Tyler Sloan snapped Panthers netminder Tomas Vokoun's scoreless streak at 147 minutes and two seconds with a first- period goal.

Recap: Washington vs. Toronto

Alex Ovechkin recorded a career-best four assists along with five points, as Washington pounded Toronto, 6-1, at Verizon Center.

Mike Knuble scored twice while Eric Fehr, Tomas Fleischmann and Tom Poti also tallied for the Capitals, who won their fifth game in six.

Jose Theodore stopped 28-of-29 shots for the win.