RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ Shane Willis had a hat trick in the first period and added a pair of assists in the second as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Washington Capitals 6-3 in a preseason game Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old rookie had just one shot in three previous exhibition games, but his five-point night snapped Carolina's four-game losing streak. The Hurricanes scored just five goals during the skid.

The Hurricanes were near the bottom of the exhibition statistics in power-play goals, but got three with the two-man advantage against the Capitals, including Willis' third goal 13 minutes into the game.

Willis opened the scoring 1:17 in when his high wrist shot beat Craig Billington, who will get the bulk of the play in goal until Vezina Trophy winner Olaf Kolzig returns from knee surgery.

Ron Francis set up Willis' second goal with a feed through the goal crease midway through the first before Washington closed to 2-1 on Jeff Halpern's goal.

Willis made it 3-1 two minutes later, getting four of Carolina's seven first-period shots.

Washington closed to 3-2 43 seconds into the second on Peter Bondra's goal, but Willis set up Rod Brind'Amour and Francis 35 seconds apart as Carolina built a three-goal advantage.

Craig Berube closed out the second-period scoring for Washington, beating Arturs Irbe between the legs.

Carolina will open its regular season Oct. 7 at home against Washington.