WASHINGTON – Cory Stillman had a goal and an assist, and the Carolina Hurricanes fired 41 shots at embattled goaltender Olaf Kolzig in cruising past the Washington Capitals 4-0.

Backup goalie Martin Gerber replaced an injured Cam Ward in the game’s fourth minute and faced only 17 shots, mainly because most of the action took place at the other end of the ice.

It was the fourth straight game that Washington permitted at least 40 shots; Kolzig faced 49 on Thursday in a 3-2 loss to Florida.

Stillman, Matt Cullen and Rod Brind’Amour scored in the second period to give Carolina a 3-0 lead, and Stillman set up a third-period goal by Ray Whitney, who was activated from the injured list before the game.

Carolina has outscored Washington 11-2 in two games this season. It was the Hurricanes’ first shutout and the first time the Capitals have been blanked.

It was also the first time this season in which Washington rookie Alexander Ovechkin failed to get a point. The eight-game run (6-4-10) to start his career was the longest since Dmitri Kvartainov had points in 14 straight games with Boston in 1992.

Ovechkin had a chance to extend the streak while the Capitals enjoyed a 4-minute power play midway through the third period, but Gerber and the Carolina defense were up to the task.

Gerber entered after Ward turned aside the only shot he faced. During a delay to fix the glass, Carolina coach Peter Laviolette pulled Ward and replaced him with Gerber.

Ward hurt his left arm during an early collision at the net.

Stillman put the Hurricanes up 1-0 at 7:47 of the second period, scoring off his own rebound after taking a pass from Erik Cole during Carolina’s sixth power-play opportunity of the game.

Cullen scored a fluke goal in the final two minutes of the period. Skating down the right side with defenseman Brendan Witt blocking his path, Cullen forced a shot that bounced off Witt and into the net.

Brind’Amour added his fifth goal just over a minute later with Carolina on a two-man advantage.

By the end of the period, the Hurricanes had a 35-11 advantage in shots on goal.

In the first period, Carolina went 0-for-5 on the power play, wasted a two-man advantage and had a goal overturned because of too many men on the ice.

Notes: Whitney returned from a groin injury. … The Capitals assigned D Nolan Yonkman to AHL Hershey for a conditioning stint. … Washington RW Ben Clymer was scratched with a groin injury.

AP-ES-10-22-05 2144EDT

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