RALEIGH, N.C. _ The Carolina Hurricanes had won seven straight at home and wanted to make it eight.
The Washington Capitals had won five straight games and wanted to make it six.
In a game Friday that wasn't lacking intensity or physicality, the Caps topped the Canes, 4-3 in a shootout at PNC Arena.
T.J. Oshie, whose goal tied the score in the third period, and Evgeny Kuznetsov had shootout goals for the Caps (19-7-3) while Caps goalie Philipp Grubauer stopped Sebastian Aho and then had Jaccob Slavin's attempt go off the post before Kuznetsov ended it.
Jeff Skinner, Justin Faulk and Teuvo Teravainen scored in regulation for the Canes, who began their streak Nov. 12 by ripping the Caps, 5-1. Teravainen's power-play score came 40 seconds into the third period, pushing the Canes in front, 3-2.
Alexander Ovechkin had a power-play goal and Justin Williams also scored in the second period for the Caps. Oshie's goal, on a redirection, tied the score 3-3 with 6:04 left in the third.
Both goalies played well in regulation, making timely saves. Cam Ward was in net for the Canes, and Grubauer was given the chance by Caps coach Barry Trotz to atone for the loss to Carolina last month at PNC Arena.
Ward made stops on Lars Eller and Kuznetsov in overtime, while Grubauer denied Skinner on a backhander and then Derek Ryan late in OT.
It was a game of momentum swings, of matchups, and at times some questionable plays and hits.
Skinner scored the game's first goal, getting in front of Caps defenseman Matt Niskanen, boxing him out and knocking in a pass from Ryan for his 12th of the season.
But the Canes couldn't keep the momentum going. Noah Hanifin had a scoring chance off a rebound but couldn't convert. Skinner knocked one off the crossbar.
The Canes had power plays late in the first and early in the second, only to have the Caps kill off penalties. And then score on a power play.
Ovechkin ripped one past Ward after a good defensive play on a potential two-on-one short-handed chance by the Canes. Ovechkin forced the Canes' Viktor Stalberg into a turnover at the Washington blue line, then scored his 14th as the trailer.
The Canes had 38 seconds of a 5-on-3 advantage later in the second, but the Caps again killed off both penalties. Then, scored again.
Justin Williams banged in a quick-hitter, the former Canes forward beating his old friend, Ward. Kuznetsov had the setup pass and the Caps a 2-1 lead.
The Caps turned to some physical play in the second. Niskanen put a knee-to-knee hit on Skinner, resulting in pushes and shoves, Niskanen in the penalty box and some chippy minutes.
The Canes answered by tying the score. Faulk scored off the rush, on a well-placed pass from Sebastian Aho.
Ward kept it a 2-2 game with a hustling pad save on an Ovechkin shot in the second after Ovechkin stickhandled past Jaccob Slavin.
The Caps kept taking penalties, including a holding call by Nicklas Backstrom 32 seconds into the third. Teravainen's power-play score came eight seconds later, Teravainen redirecting a pass from Aho.
The Canes had a couple of near-misses, Jordan Staal finding the metal with a shot, before Oshie tied it, 3-3.
When the Canes began the home-ice win streak, Washington was playing the second of a back-to-back that night while the Canes were rested. On Friday, both were playing after Tuesday games.
Trotz said before the game that the Caps would have to contend with the Canes' speed and aggression.
"They're all about pressure," Trotz said. "They come at you really hard. They have lots of team speed. ... They get up ice off the attack and they're active in the zone. They keep you aware and busy."
