WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes survived seven power plays, a four-goal second period and two key injuries Sunday and the left the MCI Center with their 11-point lead in the Southeast Division intact thanks to a 5-5 tie with the Washington Capitals.
Rod Brind'Amour scored his second goal of the game with 4:28 left in the third period to give Carolina the tie after the Hurricanes squandered a pair of two-goal leads.
Brind'Amour, who has thrived against Washington throughout his career, moved the puck down the right side and carried behind the net before banking a shot off the left arm of goaltender Olaf Kolzig and into the net for his 13th goal.
Brind'Amour also picked up an assist, giving him 52 points in 62 games against the Capitals.
Tom Barrasso surrendered five goals on 41 shots, but helped Carolina kill six power plays. The Hurricanes lost star center Jeff O'Neill to muscle spasms in the first period and defenseman Aaron Ward to a charleyhorse in the second.
A power-play tally by Ron Francis gave Carolina a 4-2 lead three minutes into the second period, but Washington stormed back and grabbed the lead on goals by defenseman Sergei Gonchar, Chris Simon and Andrei Nikolishin.
Brind'Amour's equalizer ensured the Hurricanes secured a point for the 10th time in 11 games (7-1-1-2).
Gonchar scored twice and Jaromir Jagr collected three assists for the Capitals, who have just one win in their last six contests (1-3-2-0).
