Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT): Nicklas Backstrom scored 4:46 into overtime and captain Alex Ovechkin notched his 400th career assist as host Washington skated to its second straight victory following a five-game winless streak (0-4-1).

In the waning moments of the extra session, Ovechkin unleashed a blast as he entered the offensive zone that Anton Khudobin was able to deny. The rebound careened out into the left faceoff circle, from where Backstrom immediately swatted it past a diving Khudobin to end the contest.

Troy Brouwer scored a power-play goal while Jay Beagle and Eric Fehr also tallied for the Capitals. Defenseman John Carlson notched two assists and former Hurricane Justin Peters finished with 24 saves in his first start since yielding six goals in a loss to Arizona on Sunday.

Riley Nash collected a goal and an assist while captain Eric Staal and Elias Lindholm also tallied for Carolina, which is 4-0-1 in its last five games. Defenseman Justin Faulk collected two assists while Khudobin's dismal start to the season continued as he turned aside 35 shots in falling to 0-3-2.

With Washington nursing a 2-1 lead, Fehr spotted a loose puck before his bid caromed off the skate of Hurricanes defenseman Brett Bellemore and into the net with 3:12 remaining in the second period. Staal converted Jeff Skinner's sharp pass at 8:38 of the third to trim the deficit and Faulk's soft wrist shot from along the left-wing boards above the faceoff circle was deflected by Lindholm between the pads of the netminder to forge a tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: After yielding the first goal in five consecutive contests, Washington drew first blood during a power play at 7:26 of the first period as Brouwer was credited with the tally after Carolina RW Pat Dwyer inadvertently swatted the puck into his own net. Brouwer scored four goals in last season's series versus the Hurricanes. ... Washington RW Joel Ward saw his three-game goal-scoring streak come to an end and LW Marcus Johansson had his five-game point streak halted. Johansson netted four tallies and set up three others during his streak. ... ... Peters spent his first five NHL seasons with Carolina before signing with Washington in the summer.