Washington Capitals: Caps Drop Second Straight, Fall to Winnipeg 4-2

A move to home ice didn't change the outcome for the Washington Capitals as they lost their second straight game to start the shortened 2013 NHL season. Washington was outplayed once again and fell to the Winnipeg Jets 4-2.

The Caps have now been outscored 10-5 in just two games.

Things started positive, with Matt Hendricks scoring at 10:02 on assists from Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin to give the Caps the early lead. However, Evander Kane found the back of the net just two minutes later and Winnipeg never looked back, adding an Andrew Ladd goal less than four minutes before the first intermission to go up by a goal.

Winnipeg dominated the second period, taking advantage of defensive mistakes by Washington and out-shooting the Caps by a margin of 20-9.

For the game, the Jets out-shot the Caps 39-34.

The Capitals, just as they did in the opening game against Tampa Bay, were hurt by penalties. The Jets converted on two of four power play opportunities.

Washington was given four power plays, but only scored once. Troy Brouwer found the net on a late power play in the third period.

Mistakes and missed chances have defined the Capitals in their first two games of 2013.

Goalie Braden Holtby struggled for the second consecutive game, allowing four goals on Tuesday night. After giving up just 30 goals in 14 postseason starts last year, the young netminder has already been beaten 10 times through the first two games.

At the other end of the ice, Ondrej Pavelec played a stellar game, stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced. Defenseman Tobias Enstrom led Winnipeg with three assists in the game. Blake Wheeler and Jim Slater also contributed tallies for the visiting team.

Alexander Ovechkin was once again held without a goal, managing to get just four shots on net, though he did record his first point of the year with his first period assist. Nicklas Backstrom recorded two assists in the game and Mike Ribeiro registered an assist for the second straight game.

Washington will look to get into the win column on Thursday night when the Montreal Canadians come to Verizon Center.