WASHINGTON — The past week hadn’t been kind to the Washington Capitals, which, of course, was nothing compared with their decade-plus struggle against the San Jose Sharks.

That short- and long-term futility was erased Thursday night by Alex Ovechkin, who ended a three-game goal drought with two second-period scores that lifted the Capitals to a 4-1 victory against the Sharks. Alexander Semin and Matt Bradley also scored for Washington, which halted the longest slump (0-2-2) of coach Bruce Boudreau’s tenure in the nation’s capital.

Semyon Varlamov stopped eight shots in the final two periods in relief of Jose Theodore, who had 12 saves in the first period but left with an unspecified problem. A Capitals spokesman said Theodore would be evaluated.

The Sharks, who were outshot 36-28, lost the first of a six-game, 13-day East Coast road trip.

Just as significant for Washington, it ended an 11-game drought against the Sharks dating to Feb. 20, 1999. That skid included six in a row at home, which the Capitals were determined to end from the outset.

Washington kept the puck in the Sharks’ end in the early going and drew five penalties, including consecutive overlapping violations that briefly provided two-man advantages. The Capitals finally made it work after Scott Nichol was nailed for hooking at 6:43 of the first period, as Semin converted 38 seconds later by taking Nicklas Backstrom’s pass across the crease and beating Evgeni Nabokov from the left side. Mike Green also assisted.

San Jose tied it at 14:07 on Nichol’s centering pass to Benn Ferriero, who tipped it past Theodore’s glove side.

Ovechkin, meanwhile, got back in the swing of things after going nine days without a goal. After missing on eight first-period shots, Ovechkin succeeded on his first two attempts 28 seconds apart in the second period. His sixth goal of the season came on passes from Brendan Morrison and Mike Knuble, finishing with a tip-in past Nabokov from the right circle.

Morrison and Knuble again found Ovechkin — this time on the left side — at 3:22 for a slap shot and a 3-1 lead.

Bradley made it 4-1 at 5:11 of the third on a pass from Milan Jurcina.

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