This Date in Caps History - February 17

On February 17, 1989 Washington put an 8-2 thumping on the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton.

Washington wasted no time in getting started. Mike Ridley beat Edmonton's Grant Fuhr just 30 seconds into the contest for his 30th goal of the season. Forty-three seconds later, Bengt Gustafsson's 16th of the year made it 2-0, Caps. Geoff Courtnall notched his 29th at 12:56 to complete the first period scoring. The Caps outshot the Oilers by a margin of 18-8.

Washington continued its domination in the second. Jim Thomson's second of the year came at 10:39. Lou Franceschetti followed with his sixth at 13:52 and Rod Langway's second of the season came at 19:15. The Caps carried a 6-0 lead into the second intermission, having outshot Edmonton 8-4 in the second.

Steve Leach scored washington's seventh unanswered goal at 3:16 of the third. Edmonton's Esa Tikkanen broke the shutout spell of Caps netminder Pete Peeters with a pair of goals - the first at 7:29 and the second at 8:54. Ridley netted his second of the night at 18:53 to close out the scoring. It was Washington's lone power play tally of the evening; the first seven were all scored at even strength.

The Caps outshot the Oilers 8-7 in the third and 34-19 on the night. Mike Ridley earned first star honors with a pair of goals and an assist. Gustafsson was the number two star with a goal and a helper. Scott Stevens had an assist and earned the third star designation. Langway had a goal, an assist and a plus-four rating for the game.