Washington, DC -- (Sports Network) - Brooks Laich scored the game-winner with 4:27 to play to give Washington a 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Verizon Center in the home opener for the Capitals.

Alexander Ovechkin, last season's goal-scoring leader and reigning MVP, scored twice while Matt Bradley also lit the lamp for the Capitals, who dropped their season opener to Atlanta on Friday.

Jose Theodore bounced back from a rough season-opener and made 19 saves for Washington, which had dropped three straight to Chicago.

Kris Versteeg and Jack Skille each scored for the Blackhawks, who have dropped both of their games to start the season. Nikolai Khabibulin was charged with all four goals on 34 shots in the loss.

With the score tied late in the third period, a scramble in front of the Chicago net resulted in Washington taking the lead. With Khabibulin on the ice, Laich took a whack at the puck with several players along the crease. While in the air, the puck crossed the goal line, but was then knocked out. It was initially ruled no-goal, but a review showed that the puck crossed the line and the initial call was overturned to give the Caps a 3-2 lead.

Ovechkin then sealed the win with a heavy wrister from the slot that beat Khabibulin to the left side with 1:36 left.

The Blackhawks wasted no time taking the lead as Versteeg's quick snap shot from the right circle on the fly beat Theodore between the five-hole just 26 seconds into the contest.

Chicago then took a 2-0 lead with 8:19 left in the first. Dave Bolland had the puck along the right boards and threw a pass to the right circle for Skille, who had his first shot stopped, but squeezed the rebound past Theodore.

Washington, though, cut its deficit in half less than two minutes later. Off a neutral zone turnover, David Steckel skated into the Chicago end down the left side. From the left circle he slid a pass over to Bradley, who was in behind the defense and redirected the puck past Khabibulin to make it a 2-1 game.

The Capitals tied the game with the only goal of the second period. Ovechkin rushed into the zone and backed up a defender. From the outside right circle, he flicked a low shot between the defender's legs and through the five-hole of Khabibulin.

Theodore stopped all six shots he faced in the middle stanza.

Game Notes

The Capitals host Vancouver on Monday...Chicago has its home opener against Nashville on Monday...The last time Washington defeated Chicago was on February 15, 2004...Neither team scored on the power play with Chicago having five chances and Washington four...Ovechkin scored 65 goals last season.