Washington, DC (Best E Casino) - Tomas Fleischmann scored with 1:40 remaining in overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at Verizon Center.

In the extra session, Fleischmann hammered a Eric Belanger feed past Carolina goaltender Manny Legace, who made 35 saves in a losing effort.

Mike Green scored twice on the power play for Washington, which is closing in on its third consecutive Southeast Division crown and firmly entrenched atop the Eastern Conference with a 15-point lead over Pittsburgh. The Capitals, with 99 points, are also six points ahead of San Jose in the race for the league's best overall record.

Jose Theodore turned aside 28 shots to earn the win.

Jussi Jokinen, Tuomo Ruutu and Patrick Dwyer each tallied for the Hurricanes, who have dropped two of their last three games after winning seven straight.

The recent surge has allowed Carolina to climb out of the conference cellar. The Hurricanes are now eight points behind Boston for the final playoff spot, one year after reaching the East finals.

The Caps drew first blood 2:24 after the game's opening faceoff. Brendan Morrison sent a stretch pass through the neutral zone to Alexander Semin at the opposing blue line. Semin collected the puck in stride and beat Legace with a backhander over the blocker.

Carolina's Brandon Sutter was awarded a penalty shot with 2:19 to play in the first period. The blossoming second-year center was hauled down from behind on a partial breakaway while killing a penalty. Theodore, though, kicked away his bid with the left pad to preserve the lead.

Green scored on the power play 18 seconds later, firing a wrister underneath the pads of Legace. Dwyer put the Hurricanes on the board with 1:43 to play in the opening frame.

Ruutu tied the game at the 8:43 mark of the second period before Green and Jokinen exchanged goals with the man advantage later in the middle stanza.

Game Notes

Washington left winger Alex Ovechkin picked up two assists, raising his league-leading point total to 94...Hurricanes right winger Erik Cole missed the game due to an illness.