GAME RECAP: Capitals 5, Oilers 4

WASHINGTON, DC - Despite an all-world goal by Connor McDavid in his 500th game, the Oilers once again could not overcome a sluggish start in a 5-4 decision to the Capitals in Washington on Monday night.
Evgeni Kuznetsov added a pair of goals and two assists, while Dylan Strome had two goals of his own and three points in the Washington victory. The Capitals made the Oilers pay for every mistake on the evening, racking up four power-play goals on only five shots with the man advantage.
Alex Ovechkin went toe-to-toe with McDavid in a showcase of two of the game's absolute best, proving the 37-year-old could still stick handle with the best in the game after picking up a dynamite assist on what would be the game winning goal by Kuznetsov.
For the Oilers, McDavid's beautiful goal was supplemented by a pair of goals by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl's eight of the season in what would ultimately be a losing effort. Edmonton has now lost three games in a row and sees its record drop to 7-6-0.
The Oilers won't have long to try and turn things around, with the team heading to Tampa Bay for a showdown against the Lightning on Tuesday.

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FIRST BLOOD

The Caps thought they had opened the scoring with 8:13 remaining in the first period, but the Oilers caught a break.
Sonny Milano was sprung in alone on Stuart Skinner and lifted a quick shot off the crossbar and straight down into the blue paint. The red light went on, but it was clear on review that the puck never crossed the line.
Unfortunately for the Oilers, they couldn't convert the good break into any momentum as the Capitals were relentless in the Oilers defensive zone. Their hard work was rewarded when Dylan Strome hounded Warren Foegele by the half wall, stripped him of the puck and roofed it short side on Skinner to break the ice.
The goal was Strome's third of the season for the Capitals, who has had a great start with his new club after being cut loose by the Chicago Blackhawks in the offseason. The former third-overall pick has picked up 12 points in his first 14 games in the US capital after a 48-point campaign last season.

PLAY OF THE GAME

It was Connor McDavid's 500th game, so you knew he was going to something special.
With the Oilers trailing 2-0 and in desperate need of a spark, the Captain answered in the way only he can. McDavid took the puck from the top of the circle and dangled through a pair of Capitals before sliding the puck around Charlie Lindgren for the incredible goal.
The marker was number 252 in his career and just one of several that will appear on top-10 highlights lists for years to come. Connor nearly pulled off the feat agains with 12 minutes left in the third period, showing off his sublime hands with a toe drag through the Capitals defence, but Lindgren was able to kick a pad out to deny McDavid a second spot on the highlight reel.

TURNING POINT

When the penalty kill has been a sore spot for the Oilers, taking two infractions just seconds apart is a recipe for disaster.
That's what happened in the latter half of the second period. First, Zach Hyman was called for hooking; then six seconds later, it was Yamamoto for the same penalty.
Washington quickly took advantage of the 5-on-3, with the buzzing Strome finding Evgeni Kuznetsov cross crease for an easy tap-in and his first goal of the season.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins looked to give the Oilers some life on the penalty kill, batting a Zach Hyman cross crease feed into the net for a shorthanded goal to bring the score to 3-2, but the Oilers found themselves shorthanded 21 seconds later when Cody Ceci was whistled for interference. It was yet another mistake that would cost the Oilers.

OVI THE GR-8

With Washington on the powerplay, it was Alexander Ovechkin who added one more notch to his ever-impressive career.
The sniper scored from his trademark spot at the top of the left circle, blasting a slapshot past Stuart Skinner for his eight goal of the season with 5:24 left in the middle frame. The powerplay marker was the 290th of his career, and 788th goal overall.
The sniper just passed hockey legend Gordie Howe for the all-time NHL record for goals with a single club on Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes. His climb toward hockey immortality continues with the Russian sitting just 12 goals away from passing Howe for sole possession of second all-time in goals behind Oilers icon Wayne Gretzky.

PARTING WORDS

Head Coach Jay Woodcroft on the Oilers penalty kill:
"I mean, you can't give up four power play goals in a game and expect to win it. Flat out not good enough on the penalty kill. I'd also say that we put ourselves in positions to take those penalties that I didn't think all of them we needed to take, and that doesn't help your cause when you're struggling on the penalty kill. Not good enough."
Woodcorft on what isn't working on the PK:
"I saw that we gave up five shots on the penalty kill today, and four of them went in, but it was the quality of chance that we gave up. We gave one up off an entry, one off of face, one off a five on three, and then later in the game, when were pressing to try and tie the game up, we gave one off of a fast break, but not good enough. You got to find a way to get those killed and it certainly was the determining factor in why we didn't win the game tonight."
Woodcroft on chasing the game against the Capitals:
"I thought the first period was fairly evenly played, and then we turned one over. We gave up one even strength goal the night we turned one over, and we didn't have enough people in place to protect if there was a turnover, but that ended up being a key moment of the game. That was in the last couple of minutes of the first period. We turned it over, it went in the net, and then we took a penalty not too long after that. So we're down 2-0 a minute into the second period. We felt that were still going to press and we felt good about our team and our game, but we shot ourselves in the foot with taking too many penalties and not being able to kill them. That's a bad recipe."

Woodcroft on playing Tampa Bay tomorrow:
"We got to get things back on the rails here. We've come off what our game is over the last two games. But for me, I think it comes down to simplifying things, simplifying what our game plan is. Using simplicity as a formula for success. Because right now, the way we're going about things, we can't outscore our mistakes. And tonight proved that."
Draisaitl on having to battle back against the Capitals:
"It's getting old battling back. You know, it's exhausting. It's tiring. Just give up too many goals."
Draisaitl on what isn't working on the Oilers PK:
"I think maybe just right now, we're a little hesitant. We don't really know when to pressure and when not to pressure, and then we just sit back, and teams just find a way to take advantage of us there. It's something that needs to be cleaned up."
Hyman on the Oilers penalty kill woes:
"Well, I mean, when things aren't going well, if you play long enough, you know that you go through stretches, things go well and then things don't go as well, and it feels like every little bounce is going in. But that's where you just have to bear down a little harder to get back on a roll."