Gaborik's goals at 8:09 and 10:42 of the third exposed the defensive weakness of one of the NHL's highest-scoring teams in the first month of the new season.
Ryan Callahan (unassisted) and Ales Kotalik scored in the second, erasing a 1-0 deficit, while goalie Henrik Lundqvist gave up three goals on 28 shots for the Rangers, who gained a measure or revenge for their loss to the Capitals in the quarterfinal round of last season's Eastern Conference playoffs.
Nicklas Backstrom scored twice in the third to lead Washington.
Alexander Semin had a goal and an assist, but high-scoring Alexander Ovechkin did not have a point for the Capitals, who have given up 10 goals in their last two games, both losses.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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