The Washington Capitals dropped their second straight game Wednesday, losing 4-1 to the Edmonton Oilers.

The matchup was a tale of two games. The first period featured evenly-matched defenses, whereas rapid offense was on display in the second and third periods.

Neither team scored in the first period, and each killed two power plays. Wednesday was the first time this season the Capitals didn’t score in the first period.

However, Oilers forward Benoit Pouliot found two goals in the second period.

Pouliot’s first came just under eight minutes into the period when an intended shot by Edmonton forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins clipped him and rebounded into the goal. Nugent-Hopkins earned the assist.

The Oiler scored his second goal of the night on a pass off the boards to himself. Nugent-Hopkins and Edmonton defenseman Oscar Klefbom received credit for assists on the play.

With the Oilers’ two second period goals, Capitals opponents have outscored them 8-2 in the second frame.

Washington responded nine seconds into the third period with an Alex Ovechkin goal. Matt Niskanen and Andre Burakovsky obtained assists on the play.

Ovechkin has goals in four straight games and owns four scores on the season.

Edmonton responded less than two minutes later when Patrick Maroon scored, bumping the Oilers lead to 3-1. Jesse Puljujarvi and Connor McDavid gained the assists.

The Oilers tacked on one more goal during a power play in the middle of the third period. Milan Lucic scored on Andrej Sekera’s and McDavid’s assists.

Washington outshot Edmonton 35-29, but Oilers goalie Cam Talbot converted 34 saves compared to Capitals goalie Braden Holtby’s 25.

The loss moves the fourth place Capitals record to 3-2-1. The 6-1 Oilers hold first place in the Pacific Division.

Washington will continue their away stand in Vancouver Saturday night against the Canucks. Edmonton will face the Canucks Friday night in Vancouver.