AP – Vancouver Canucks left wing Christopher Higgins (20) tries to get a shot past Washington Capitals goalie … VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Alex Edler scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist to lead the Vancouver Canucks past the Washington Capitals 7-4 on Saturday night.
Maxim Lapierre and Chris Higgins also had a pair of goals for the Canucks. Henrik Sedin scored the winner at 6:18 of the third period.
Alex Ovechkin had two goals for the Capitals, who lost their second straight after opening the season with seven consecutive wins for the first time in franchise history. Mike Knuble converted a penalty shot and Marcus Johansson also scored for the Capitals.
The Canucks, notorious for starting the season slowly, improved to 5-5-1 as they ended a two-game skid. It was Vancouver's third win in six home games.
All the offense was fitting for a game featuring three of the NHL's past four scoring champions: Ovechkin, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin.
The Canucks outshot the Capitals 43-32 as the teams combined for 75 shots. Vancouver converted two of five power-play chances, while Washington was 1 for 4.
Lapierre opened the scoring 3:31 into the game. He checked the puck off Tomas Vokoun behind the net, then banked it in off the Washington goaltender's skate as he tried to get back into his net.
Ovechkin, held without a point in Washington's last visit to Vancouver in 2009, tied it at 8:55 of the first period. He jammed the puck into Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo, then it flew high in the air and bounced in off Luongo's back as he searched for the puck in vain.
Higgins gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead on a power play about 5 1/2 minutes later, putting in his own rebound after Vokoun robbed him on his initial shot. David Booth, acquired in a trade from Florida last week, got an assist for his first point with the Canucks.
The goal came while Washington's Joel Ward was off for high-sticking Ryan Kesler on a blatant cheap shot. Kesler got his revenge by setting up Edler's goal on a power play with 3.2 seconds left in the first period.
Edler ripped a shot from the point over Vokoun's glove after Kesler won a faceoff cleanly to Sami Salo and the two defensemen passed the puck back and forth.
The Canucks outshot the Capitals 17-10 in the first, and Washington coach Bruce Boudreau replaced Vokoun with Michal Neuvirth at the start of the second period.
For the first time in more than a week, fans gave the much-maligned Luongo an affectionate "Loooo" as he made a save early in the second period. But the crowd groaned moments later as Ovechkin reduced Washington's deficit to 3-2 on a one-timer off Nicklas Backstrom's pass during a power play.
Knuble scored on a penalty shot at 5:07 of the second after Luongo blocked the shot with his arm but then fell back into the net, knocking the puck in. The penalty shot was awarded after Edler tripped Knuble on a breakaway.
Edler put the Canucks ahead 4-3 at the 8-minute mark of the second as he cruised into the high slot and fired in Henrik Sedin's pass.
Johansson tied it 4-all at 17:54 of the second when he elected to shoot during a 2-on-1 with Ovechkin.
Henrik Sedin gave the Canucks a 5-4 lead just more than six minutes into the third when he flipped in a rebound after Neuvirth made two saves but could not freeze the puck.
Higgins' second goal gave the Canucks a two-goal cushion 44 seconds later as Jannik Hansen sidestepped a sliding Ovechkin and fed him the puck in the slot.
Lapierre capped the scoring with his second of the night midway through the third. Using Higgins as a decoy on a 2-on-1, he slid a shot through Neuvirth's legs.
NOTES: The Canucks start a six-game road trip in Calgary on Tuesday. The Capitals head home to face Anaheim the same night. ... Capitals defenseman Mike Green (ankle) missed his fifth straight game. He is expected back next weekend. ... Injured Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome (hand) and wing Steve Pinizzotto (shoulder) remained out, but are expected to return sometime during the upcoming road trip. ... Many fans were dressed in Halloween costumes.
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