Oilers make progress in 3-2 win over Capitals, Scrivens given credit for victory

EDMONTON - Ben Scrivens made 32 stops as the Edmonton Oilers won their second game in a row, handing the Capitals their first loss in regulation this season with a 3-2 victory over Washington on Wednesday.

Justin Schultz, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nikita Nikitin scored for the Oilers (2-4-1), who had avoided setting a new franchise record for the worst start to the season with a win over Tampa Bay on Monday. Teddy Purcell picked up a pair of assists for Edmonton.

John Carlson and Mike Green replied for the Capitals (3-1-2), who saw a two-game winning streak snapped.

The Oilers started the scoring seven minutes into the opening period as Purcell made a nice backhand pass from the corner to a pinching Schultz in front, and he beat Washington goalie Braden Holtby for his second goal in as many games.

Washington tied the game 1-1 midway through the first on the power play as they caught Edmonton running around, allowing Carlson to move in tight from the point and beat Scrivens with a bullet of a shot.

The Caps' next power play with two minutes left in the first was equally dangerous, but Scrivens came up with a huge save in tight on Green to keep the game tied.

Edmonton outshot Washington 11-10 through the first 20 minutes.

The Capitals went up 2-1 five minutes into the second period as Andre Burakovsky threaded a pass to Green in the slot and he beat Scrivens on a wrist shot.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Nugent-Hopkins picked off an Alex Ovechkin pass and blazed into the Washington zone, scoring just 20 seconds after the Capitals surged ahead.

Edmonton regained the lead with four minutes left in the second period as a clumsy power play suddenly connected as Purcell tapped a puck back to the point and Nikitin scored his first as an Oiler on a point shot through traffic.

Washington came out flying in the third period, but Scrivens stood tall, stopping Ovechkin after he walked around Schultz for a great opportunity.

Scrivens almost single-handedly preserved the win as the Capitals buzzed the Edmonton net, outshooting them 12-1 halfway through the third, but the Oilers held on for the victory.

The Oilers play the fourth game of a season-high seven-game homestand on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Capitals continue their three-game road trip on Saturday, when they play the second match-up in Calgary against the Flames.

There was a moment of silence before the game in recognition of the shootings in Ottawa earlier in the day, as well as the attack in Quebec earlier this week. A sombre crowd loudly sang the Canadian national anthem.

Notes: It was the first of two games between these teams this season. Washington won both meetings last season, winning games 10 days apart in October… The Capitals came into the meeting having allowed fewer than 30 shots on net in each of its first five games this season. Last season, Washington permitted 30 or more shots on net in 61 of its 82 games… The clock is ticking on Leon Draisaitl as he played his seventh game of the season with questions about whether the Oilers will keep him past a permitted nine-game audition or return him to junior. Draisaitl, who had an assist to show from his first six games, was the third overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, but picked up another assist on Edmonton's third goal… Edmonton backup goalie Viktor Fasth continues to skate with the team and is near to a return from a groin injury… Washington forward Jay Beagle saw his first action of the season after getting injured during the pre-season. Beagle subbed in for Brooks Laich, who sustained a shoulder injury in Saturday's win over the Panthers.