Caps fall to Oilers for season's first loss 2-1
Posted on October 28, 2011A tough night, with much time spent in the penalty box, put the Washington Capitals in the loss column for the first time this season. Edmonton got a signature victory over the Caps Thursday at Rexall Place, with a 2-1 win over the boys from D.C. The Capitals have gotten offensive contributions from defensemen all season long, and Thursday night's game in Edmonton was no exception. Sean Collins, recalled from Hershey and filling in for Mike Green, picked up an assist at 5:36 of the first period as Karl Alzner's first goal of the season gave Washington a 1-0 lead. Edmonton came back on a power play goal at 18:15 as Taylor Hall finished a pretty pass play from Jordan Eberle, which tied the game at 1-1. Washington managed nine first period shots on Nikolai Khabibulin, while Tomas Vokoun saw just five on net in the first 20 minutes. Penalties became the theme of the game in the 2nd period. After Hall's goal on the power play in the first tied the game, Jordan Eberle showed us why the kids in Edmonton are drawing so much attention with a power play tally at 12:44. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Corey Potter assisted, and the Oilers took a 2-1 lead to the dressing room after two. At the end of 40 minutes Thursday, Edmonton had eight power plays to just one for the Capitals. Nine different minor penalties for the Caps made for strange ice times around, with Alex Ovechkin skating just 8:58 through two. You sure don't see that very often. Washington had plenty of chances in the third period, firing 19 shots on goal in the final frame. Khabibulin stopped every one of them, and the Caps fall to 7-1-0 on the season.
