Edmonton Oilers' Shawn Horcoff (R) celebrates a goal against Washington Capitals' Karl Alzner during their NHL hockey game in Edmonton October 27, 2011.DAN RIEDLHUBER/Reuters
Jordan Eberle had a goal and an assist and Nikolai Khabibulin made 34 saves as the Edmonton Oilers became the first team to beat Washington this season, hanging on for dear life to edge the Capitals 2-1 on Thursday night.
Taylor Hall also scored for the Oilers (5-2-2), who have won three in a row.
Karl Alzner responded for the Capitals, who lost for the first time this season after a 7-0 start.
The Capitals were one of just 10 teams in NHL history to start a season 7-0.
The Capitals went up 1-0 five and a half minutes into the first as Alzner did a good job to keep a puck in at the point and then wound up and blew a shot past Khabibulin.
Edmonton came close to tying it up on a similar play by Cam Barker, but his shot hit the post behind Capitals starter Tomas Vokoun.
The Oilers tied the game with two minutes to play in the opening period on a nice three-way passing play on a four-on-three man advantage. Eberle slid a quick pass through the crease to Hall, who swatted in his third of the season.
Edmonton took a 2-1 lead with eight minutes remaining in the second period with another power play goal. A big rebound on a Corey Potter point shot came out to Eberle, who put it into the open net.
Washington had a good chance to tie it with four minutes left in the second as Alex Ovechkin picked off a pass in the Edmonton zone for a partial break, but Khabibulin stood his ground to make a kick save.
Khabibulin stood on his head for the first five minutes of the third, notably making kick saves on Ovechkin and Backstrom and robbing Dennis Wideman on a slapshot.
Wideman rang another shot off the post on the power play with four minutes left.
The Capitals got another power play in the final minute and pulled Vokoun, but could not get the equalizer.
Washington outshot Edmonton 18-6 in the third period.
The Oilers travel to Colorado to face the Avalanche on Friday. Washington next plays in Vancouver on Saturday.
Notes: It was the only meeting between the two teams this season. The last time they played was a 5-0 victory for the Capitals in Washington last season. ... It was first overall draft pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' ninth game. If he plays a 10th he will remain with Edmonton for the remainder of the season. ... Oilers D Ryan Whitney went for an MRI on his sore right knee Wednesday but there was no word on how long he may be out of the lineup. ... Caps D Mike Green has not practised this week after suffering an ankle injury in Saturday's win over the Wings.