WASHINGTON -- Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin made his NHL debut in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

Behind another solid performance from Frederik Andersen in net and a late third-period charge punctuated by an Andrei Svechnikov goal, the Hurricanes downed the Capitals in five games.

Alexander Nikishin took the ice helmetless for warmups prior to Game 5 of the Carolina Hurricanes' second-round series at Washington and skated the customary solo lap for a player making his NHL debut.