Alexander Semin and John Carlson scored for the Capitals, whose 6-0 start at home was the best in franchise history. Washington has dropped two in a row overall following a 9-2 start.
Oilers top Canadiens
Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 saves and Ryan Jones scored a short-handed goal in the second period to send the Edmonton Oilers to a 3-1 win over the host Montreal Canadiens.
Khabibulin, who has allowed nine goals in nine games, came within 3 minutes, 10 seconds of posting his third shutout of the season. He has yet to lose in regulation, improving to 7-0-2.
Red Wings on track
Johan Franzen scored three goals, and the suddenly potent Detroit Red Wings rolled to a 5-2 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche.
Detroit has won two straight with a combined 10 goals after scoring a total of six in a six-game skid following a 5-0 start.
Elsewhere: Rookie center Adam Henrique scored at 16:41 of the third period to lift the host New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. . . . Thomas Vanek scored a power-play goal 4:35 into overtime, tipping in Jason Pominville's shot to rally the host Buffalo Sabres to a 6-5 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. . . . Jaroslav Halak shrugged off his shaky start to the season, making 29 saves as the host St. Louis Blues won coach Ken Hitchcock's debut with a 3-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. . . . The Florida Panthers took advantage of shaky Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson and routed the host Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-1.
Sabres honor Hawerchuk
Dale Hawerchuk has been inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in a ceremony before the team's game against the Winnipeg Jets.
Hawerchuk played five seasons for the Sabres after he was obtained in a trade from the original Winnipeg franchise in 1990.
Drafted first overall by the Jets in 1981, Hawerchuk played nine seasons in Winnipeg before moving to Buffalo. He also had stops in St. Louis and Philadelphia before retiring with the Flyers in 1997.
- Associated Press
