Caps down Oilers

Evgeny Kuznetsov had two goals and Alex Ovechkin added three assists as the Washington Capitals snapped a two-game losing skid with a 52 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Devante Smith-Pelly, Lars Eller and Jay Beagle also scored for the Capitals (5-5-1), who had lost four of their previous five.

Patrick Maroon and Adam Larsson responded for the Oilers (3-6-1), who have lost three of their last four games.

The Oilers took the lead 12 minutes into the first period when Maroon followed up on a Connor McDavid shot to send his fourth goal of the season past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby.

Edmonton made it 2-0 with two minutes left in the opening frame as some sustained pressure led to Larsson getting some open ice and sending a shot top corner past Holtby.

The Capitals got one back with 18 seconds left in the first when an Edmonton breakdown led to an odd-man rush, and Smith-Pelly finished the play by wiring the puck past Oilers goalie Cam Talbot.

Midway through the second period, with a delayed penalty coming to Edmonton, Washington tied it up on a bullet of a one-timer from Eller.

The Capitals took a 3-2 lead 30 seconds into the third period as Ovechkin picked up his third assist of the game by feathering a pass towards the net that was deftly tipped in by Kuznetsov.

Washington got some insurance with four minutes left when Kuznetsov put on a one-man show to fight off a defender and then hook back to tuck the puck past Talbot at the side of the net for his second of the game.