Ray Whitney scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the third period, and the Carolina Hurricanes picked up their first pre-season win with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

Eric Staal had a goal and three assists, and Erik Cole added a goal and two assists for defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina, which ended the pre-season at 1-4-0. Ben Clymer and Jamie Heward each scored early in the third period as Washington came back from a 2-0, first-period deficit, but fell to 3-2-1 in its final exhibition game.

Whitney's second goal came with 7:07 gone in the final period when he knocked the rebound of Staal's shot past Washington goaltender Olaf Kolzig. Staal made it 4-2 just more than six minutes later on another second-effort shot.

Cam Ward made 30 saves for Carolina, which begins the regular season Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference final. Washington opens Thursday at the New York Rangers.