Caps score 3 quick goals in 2nd, top Oilers 4-2

[October 15, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Joel Ward, Alex Ovechkin and Troy Brouwer scored goals in less than four minutes of the second period, and the Washington Capitals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night.

With the score tied at 1, Ward took advantage of a power play and scored his first goal of the season at 10:06 of the second.

Ovechkin added his sixth goal 3:12 later, and Brouwer -- during another power play -- netted his first 43 seconds after that. Nicklas Backstrom assisted on all three goals, scored 3:55 apart. Brooks Laich scored Washington's first goal of the game.

The Capitals scored four times on 20 shots against Edmonton goalie Jason LaBarbera. The Oilers have given up at least four goals in each of their six games.

Boyd Gordon and Will Acton, with the first of his NHL career, scored for Edmonton.

The Oilers took a 1-0 lead 9:48 into the game on Gordon's fourth goal.

Justin Schultz recovered a loose puck near center ice, skated down the right wing and sent a pass to Boyd Gordon, who flipped a shot past goalie Braden Holtby.

Just 3:53 later, Laich scored his first of the season when he fired a shot past LaBarbera.

Ward gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead one second after Brouwer and Edmonton's David Perron returned to the ice after they served roughing penalties.

Washington had been working with a 4-on-3 power play, and patiently worked the puck in front of the net until Ward scored.

Ovechkin was called for interfering with Mike Brown at 12:19 of the third period. A melee ensued with Ovechkin, Brown, the Oilers' Luke Gazdic and Washington's Mike Green and Karl Alzner all sent off the ice for various infractions.

Acton cut the Oilers' deficit to 4-2 with 1:42 left in the game.

NOTES: Edmonton F Nail Yakupov was a healthy scratch for the second straight game. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2012 draft is pointless in four games. . Washington D John Erskine missed his second straight game because of an upper body injury. ... In the first period, Green collided with the Oilers LW Jesse Joensuu in front of his own bench and tumbled headfirst over the boards. He didn't miss any ice time. . Ovechkin has nine points in six games.

[Associated Press]

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