Oilers 2 - 4 Capitals
Final
  for this game

Caps host Oilers in clash between struggling teams

Oct 14, 2013 - 2:43 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - A couple of teams in desperate need of a win will meet Monday in D.C., as the Washington Capitals host the Edmonton Oilers at Verizon Center.

The Capitals and Oilers each enter Monday's contest with just one win in five games this season. Washington (1-4-0) has lost its last three games in regulation, while the 1-3-1 Oilers have lost two straight, including Saturday's 6-5 overtime setback in Toronto.

Saturday's game against the Leafs was a back-and-forth affair. The score was tied 2-2 after one period and it was 3-3 after 40 minutes. Edmonton then held a pair of one-goal leads in the third period, but was unable to hold either of them.

Toronto tied the game at 5-5 on Joffrey Lupul's tally with 31 seconds remaining in regulation and Dave Bolland netted the game-winning goal at 2:09 of overtime.

Ryan Smyth scored twice for Edmonton in the loss, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Boyd Gordon and Jordan Eberle all scored a goal and Mark Arcobello had three assists. Devan Dubnyk struggled between the pipes, allowing all six goals on 26 shots.

"I'm sure (Toronto head coach) Randy (Carlyle) and I have got a few extra gray hairs from that one," said Edmonton head coach Dallas Eakins. "I thought our guys played hard."

Saturday's wild game kicked off a six-game road trip for the Oilers, who are 0-1-1 as the visiting team so far this season.

Washington, meanwhile, was handed its most lopsided loss of the season on Saturday, as it dropped a 5-1 decision to visiting Colorado. Alex Tanguay scored twice to back a 40-save effort from former Capitals goaltender Semyon Varlamov. The win kept the Avalanche perfect on the season, improving their record to 5-0.

Eric Fehr potted the lone goal for the slumping Capitals, while Michal Neuvirth stopped 23-of-28 shots in a losing cause.

"It starts on our end. We've got to be stronger; we've got make sure pucks get out," said Fehr. "I think we need to want the puck a little bit more. We have to win puck battles, whether it's in our end or their end. We need to play physical, and we need to want the puck."

Washington is playing the third test of a five-game homestand on Monday and will close the residency with tests against the New York Rangers and Columbus.

The Caps have claimed three of five and four of the last seven meetings against the Oilers, who have been defeated in seven of their past eight trips to D.C.






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