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WASHINGTON (AP) -- So much for those concerns as to whether Joe Murphy would fit in with the Washington Capitals.
Murphy, signed Feb. 10 after the Boston Bruins waived him for insubordination, scored his fourth and fifth goals with Washington on Friday as the Capitals beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2.
|  | | Washington's Jeff Halpern beat Carolina netminder Arturs Irbe on a second-period power play. |
"He's not only doing the job offensively, but he's taken a lot of pride in his defense as well," Washington coach Ron Wilson said.
"He has a reputation for being eccentric, but I really don't know what that means. How can you be eccentric on the ice? You're not. What you do off the ice, who cares? He hasn't shown any of that. He's fit right in."
Jeff Halpern added two goals on power plays, and Olaf Kolzig made 31 saves for his 35th win of the season, tying Jim Carey's franchise record from 1995-96.
The Hurricanes, fighting for a playoff spot, would have moved into the top eight in the Eastern Conference with a victory, but they were unable to solve Kolzig until Martin Gelinas' slapshot from a tight angle in the left circle flew by Kolzig's shoulder 6:43 into the third period.
Andrei Kovalenko added a late goal for the Hurricanes, who were starting a key three-game road trip.
"We created enough to win the game," Carolina coach Paul Maurice said. "We didn't quit. We kept pushing the issue, but it makes it tough when you give up a couple of power-play goals."
Murphy was suspended and waived by the Bruins after a heated exchange with coach Pat Burns, an action termed "insubordination toward the coach" by Boston.
Signing him was a risk for the Capitals, who already had a pretty good team chemistry. But, if anything, Murphy's improved it.
"I feel fortunate about the fact that they wanted me here," Murphy said. "I feel blessed a little."
Murphy scored early into the first and killed Carolina's momentum with another goal just 44 seconds after Gelinas had cut the Capitals lead to 2-1 in the third.
The Capitals, the NHL's hottest team, moved six points ahead of second-place Florida in the Southeast Division. They are 25-6-5 since Jan. 1 and unbeaten (10-0-1) in 11 games against division opponents. The Caps are also 16-1-3 in their last 20 games at home and have failed to gain a point at home in only four games all season.
Kolzig improved to 35-18-10 on the season. He has started 16 consecutive games and is 27-5-4 in his last 36 starts.
Murphy gave the Capitals the lead 3:47 into the game with a wrist shot from the left circle off a feed from Terry Yake.
Wilson had been preaching puck movement to his players to improve the power play, and it paid off with goals from Halpern at 7:13 of the second period and 12:47 of the third. Adam Oates got his 881st career assist on Halpern's first goal, tying him with Mario Lemieux for 13th all-time.
Gelinas' goal in the third brought Carolina to life, but it lasted less than a minute. Andrei Nikolishin, working in the neutral zone, sprung the puck to Murphy, who put the puck over Arturs Irbe's left shoulder on a breakaway at 7:27.
"Playing pretty hard is not enough," Carolina center Jeff O'Neill said. "We are getting down to the wire."
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NHL Scoreboard
Carolina Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Washington 4
Carolina 2
Tampa Bay 3
New Jersey 1
St. Louis 4
Los Angeles 0
Edmonton 4
Ottawa 2
Nashville 4
Phoenix 3
Anaheim 4
San Jose 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Joe Murphy plays the pipes.
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