Kuznetsov's hat trick carries Capitals past Oilers

There was no shortage of goals in Friday's game between the Washington Capitals and the Edmonton Oilers, and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored three of them.

The Capitals forward scored in every period and added a pair of assists as Washington thumped the Oilers 7-4 at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Kuznetsov's markers were his first three of the season, giving him 11 points in seven games.

Related: Capitals chase Oilers' Nilsson out of net with 6 goals

Nicklas Backstrom, Marcus Johansson, Andre Burakovsky, and Justin Williams also scored for the Capitals, who improved to 6-1-0 and leapfrogged the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division.

Connor McDavid scored his fifth goal of the season on a puck that deflected in off Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen's skate in the opening minute of the second period.

McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tallied a goal and an assist apiece for the Oilers, who dropped to 3-5-0.