Eye on the Hurricanes

CAROLINA AT WASHINGTON, 7 P.M. TODAY

WHERE: Verizon Center, Washington RADIO: WCMC-99.9

BURNING QUESTION

Winners in their first game under their new coach Friday, can the Capitals keep the momentum going tonight against the Hurricanes?

CAROLINA

Season series is even so far

The Hurricanes are 1-1-0 against the Capitals this season, losing 2-0 on the road on Oct. 6 and winning 5-0 at home on Nov. 5. ... With Erik Cole (neck) returning Friday, only Scott Walker (torn chest cartilage) remains among the long-term injured. He's practicing but remains out indefinitely. ... The Hurricanes activated Cole him from injured reserve and sent Ryan Bayda to Albany (AHL).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

JOHN GRAHAME, G

With the Hurricanes wrapping up a stretch of three games in four nights and Cam Ward playing the first two, Grahame could play tonight for the second time since Nov. 3. Ward's Friday start was the eighth in nine games. Grahame hasn't played since a 6-1 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 14.

WASHINGTON

Boudreau a winner in debut

The Capitals picked up a 4-3 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday in Bruce Boudreau's first game as interim coach. Glen Hanlon was fired Thursday after an NHL-worst 6-14-1 start and five straight losses. ... Boudreau put rookie center Nicklas Backstrom on the fourth line for his first practice and Backstrom responded with two assists and the game-winning goal.

MICHAEL NYLANDER, C

While the Capitals may have struggled, Nylander hasn't. He has 15 points in his past 15 games and is second on the team in scoring, behind only Alex Ovechkin. After a career-high 79 and 83 points the past two seasons with the New York Rangers, the 35-year-old is on pace for 74 this season.