NHL: Washington 5, Atlanta 3

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Alexander Ovechkin's first hat trick this season lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers Wednesday.

He scored twice on the power play in the second period and once in the second. His assist on Victor Kozlov's goal in the third gave him his second four-point contest this season.

Ovechkin's point total rose to 29 in 20 games.

Netminder Jose Theodore was credited with 15 saves on 18 shots for the Capitals, who broke a three-game losing streak despite being without seven injured players.

Atlanta's Bryan Little had a goal and an assist. Slava Kozlov and Nathan Oystric scored once each. Todd White and Ilya Kovalchuk had two assists apiece.

Goalie Ondrej Pavelec was beaten five times on 33 shots for the Thrashers, who have lost four of five.

On the power play, Washington went 2-for-4 and Atlanta went 2-for-3.