NHL-Capitals win second game in a row for interim coach

NEW YORK, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Washington Capitals notched up their second straight victory for interim coach Bruce Boudreau when they beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 on Saturday.

Boudreau was appointed when Glen Hanlon was fired after the team lost five games in a row to fall to 6-14-1, the worst record in the NHL.

The Capitals won with a goal and two assists from Michael Nylander and the 15th and 16th goals of the season from Alex Ovechkin.

They also struck for three powerplay goals, the first time since Oct. 29 the team had scored at least two powerplay goals in a game.

"I think it's not about the powerplay, the whole game is different right now," Ovechkin told reporters. "Everybody feels confident. We talk to each other, make simple plays and score goals."

Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said Washington was a better team than results had suggested.

"They capitalized on some powerplay chances tonight, but they are a hard-working team, they've got good skill level and they compete," he said.

Defenseman Mike Green scored one of the powerplay goals, his fifth goal of the year, one more than any Washington defenseman managed all of last season.

*Martin Brodeur made 34 saves to help the New Jersey Devils finish a 4-0 road trip with a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brian Gionta scored twice as New Jersey went over the .500 mark (11-10-2) for the first time this season.

*Daniel Briere posted a goal and two assists as the visiting Philadelphia Flyers posted a 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators, who have now lost three in a row for the first time since March.

*The Detroit Red Wings scored two goals in a team-record five seconds, but dropped a 3-2 road decision in a shootout to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nikolai Zherdev scored the deciding goal in the shootout after Tomas Holstrom and Pavel Datsyuk erased a 2-0 second-period deficit with the quick strikes for Detroit. (Writing by Mike Shalin; Editing by Ed Osmond)