RALEIGH, N.C. – The Washington Capitals officially clinched their playoff berth with a puck that glanced off Nic Dowd’s stick and through Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Curtis McElhinney’s legs. Dowd pumped both fists and roared, an appropriate celebration for his first goal in 14 games and a game-winning tally at that. Perhaps it was poetic that the tally that will behind the Capitals’ defense of their Stanley Cup was scored by a player new to the team this year.

Washington beat Carolina, 3-2, to extend its winning streak to three games, and the team now has a three-point lead on first place in the Metropolitan Division. Goaltender Braden Holtby was credited with just 24 saves, but many of them were from point-blank range.

With the Hurricanes leading by one goal entering the third period, forward Jakub Vrana collected a pass from center Evgeny Kuznetsov at the offensive blue line and then got behind Carolina’s defensemen with his speed, beating McElhinney five-hole 1:35 into the frame. Dowd’s goal then came with 4:56 left in regulation, a tip on defenseman Nick Jensen’s shot.