WASHINGTON — Two games, two losses for Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals and first-time NHL head coach Adam Oates.
Winnipeg’s Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler each provided a goal and an assist Tuesday night, and the Jets suddenly transformed into an offensive juggernaut, beating the Capitals 4-2 to drop Washington to 0-2 for the first time since 1996.
“At this stage of the year, there’s a little confidence issue,” Oates said. “We’re all second-guessing each other a little bit.”
The Capitals lost their home opener for the first time since 2000, ending a 10-game streak and drawing occasional boos from the red-clad crowd. There’s plenty to complain about: The team has been outscored 10-5; opponents are 5 for 12 on power plays; two-time league MVP Ovechkin doesn’t have a goal.
“When there was a mistake, it was a big mistake,” said Washington’s Troy Brouwer, who scored a power-play goal with 76 seconds left. “The grace period is over.”
Not the best way to get started in a lockout-shortened season, where any losing streak’s significance is magnified. The quick training camp and lack of preseason games didn’t give Oates much time to implement his systems.
“You feel for their situation,” Jets coach Claude Noel said.
“It’s a really tough transition where you don’t have a long camp, you don’t have exhibition games, which is a huge difference. You can’t assess your team correctly. You’re doing it on the fly.”
Andrew Ladd and Jim Slater also scored, and Tobias Enstrom had three assists for Winnipeg (1-1-1), which outshot the Capitals 39-34. The Jets scored only two goals in their first 137 1/2 minutes of play this season. They matched that total with a pair of power-play scores in a four-minute span during the first period Tuesday while building a 4-1 lead.
“If you play a simple game and everyone buys into it, you can have success,” said Wheeler, who was on a new line with Kane and Olli Jokinen.
Washington scored first, on Matt Hendricks’ goal about 10 minutes into the game, but that lead didn’t stand long. Winnipeg tied it about 2 1/2 minutes later when Kane’s attempt to centre the puck wound up in the net behind goalie Braden Holtby. The puck went in after striking the boot of Capitals defenceman John Carlson at the 12 1/2-minute mark.