Backstrom debuts with 3 points as Caps beat Hurricanes, 4-1

Third Period_2, Washington, Backstrom 1, 1:38.

PITTSBURGH – Evgeni Malkin and Olli Maatta scored first-period goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins held on for a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19), of Sweden, faces off against Carolina Hurricanes center Victor Rask (49), of Sweden, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, October 17, 2015, in Washington. He also had 18 goals while playing 82 games.

The Caps had yet another strong start. Backstrom had not gotten into a game since last year’s postseason because he was recovering from offseason hip surgery that limited him to this point.

The Caps were a ideal 2-2 on the man advantage, getting power play markers from Oshie and Carlson.

Power-play opportunities_Carolina 0 of 4; Washington 2 of 2.

The Capitals showed their killer instinct in the third period, tacking on three goals on the Hurricanes. The Penguins haven’t scored more than two goals in a single game, but they have still managed to win their last two contests.

The first goal was scored unassisted by none other than Backstrom.

Early in the third, Backstrom corralled a loose puck along the boards in the Carolina end, fired on net and the puck appeared to hit a Hurricanes defenseman before sneaking between goalie Cam Ward’s pads to make it 2-0. It’s good to see that Backstrom’s shooting again. He had two shots tonight in his first game back.