NEW YORK – Marian Gaborik netted his first three goals of the season, and the New York Rangers scored four times in the second period to beat the Edmonton Oilers 8-2 Sunday and spoil the return of former coach Tom Renney.

The game turned ugly with 8:42 left after a fight between New York’s Sean Avery and Edmonton’s Ladislav Smid. As Avery was being ushered toward the tunnel next to the benches, Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney yelled at him.

Theo Peckham joined the fray and was cut off by Rangers forward Brian Boyle. Those two fought after Peckham was blocked from going into the tunnel, and New York’s Brandon Prust took on Zack Stortini.

Gaborik, playing in his fifth game, added an assist as the Rangers won their second straight at home and sent the Oilers to their fourth consecutive loss (0-3-1) and sixth in seven games (1-5-1). Boyle, Artem Anisimov, and Alex Frolov also scored in the second period.

CAPITALS 6, THRASHERS 4: John Erskine scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:49 remaining to help Washington beat Atlanta for a sixth straight home victory.

Trailing a rush into the Thrashers’ zone, Erskine used a slap shot from the left point to convert a drop pass from David Steckel, beating Ondrej Pavelec to cap a sloppy, goal-filled game. Pavelec allowed one goal on 16 shots after replacing Chris Mason in the second period.

WILD 4, LIGHTNING 1: Cal Clutterbuck and Antti Miettinen scored on the power play during a three-goal first period, Niklas Backstrom made 37 saves and Minnesota wonat Tampa, Fla.

BLACKHAWKS 3, DUCKS 2: In Chicago, Viktor Stalberg scored 4½ minutes into overtime to give the Blackhawks a win that snapped Anaheim’s six-game winning streak.