OTTAWA, SEPT. 21 -- The Zamboni driver wore a tuxedo, with red cummerbund, handkerchief and bow tie, for this was not simply a hockey game, but a celebration, because Canada's national pastime, in the form of the National Hockey League, was returning to its capital for the first time in 58 years.

Was John Prevost nervous about the job of driving the Zamboni during the expansion Ottawa Senators first game, albeit exhibition, at home against the Washington Capitals?

"Nah, it's a buzz," said Prevost, whose shoulder-blade length hair was in a ponytail.

Indeed, the town and 10,000 fans who came to the Civic Center were in a bit of a lather. The regular season doesn't start until Oct. 8 when the Montreal Canadiens visit for the season opener, but this was the first warmup for the Senators' first season since 1933-34.

The evening did not prove as successful as the locals would have liked, as the Capitals defeated the Senators, 4-3, on Peter Bondra's goal with 2:19 gone in overtime. This gives the Capitals a 1-0 lead in the Capital Cup series, which is what this two-game set is being called. The Cup is designed to give a little something to an exhibition series between the teams from the capitals of Canada and the United States. If the Senators win Wednesday night's game here, then there will be a shootout to determine the winner of the $5,000 crystal trophy.

"It adds a little something," Capitals Coach Terry Murray said. "But I was excited about coming back because there was a lot of adrenaline with the crowd."

Reggie Savage scored the first goal of the game on goalie Peter Sidorkiewicz before the Senators Sylvain Turgeon scored for a 1-1 tie. Jody Hull gave Senators a 2-1 lead but Keith Jones scored with just 17 seconds left in the first period to tie. After a turnover by Capitals defenseman John Slaney, Mike Peluso gave Ottawa a 3-2 lead in the second period. But Jason Woolley tied it at 3-3 for the Capitals with a third-period goal to force overtime.

Again, there were a slew of penalties. The Senators drew 21 for 55 minutes and the Capitals took 17 for 49 minutes.

"There was no flow to the game," said Capitals defenseman Al Iafrate, who had the assist on Bondra's game-winner.

But long before that, it wasn't entirely clear that this game would come off, though it eventually did with a weak light-and-fireworks show. A huge crane was still putting the boards and the all-important advertisements up two and a half hours before the faceoff.

Goalie Don Beaupre made his first start of the exhibition season and played quite well. It was also the first appearance for Jim Hrivnak, who is trying to hold off challengers for the No. 2 job. Olie Kolzig, Duane Dersken and Byron Dafoe played the first three games. Hrivnak did allow Peluso's backhand shot to slip under his pads, giving the Senators a 3-2 lead after two periods.

Capitals Notes: Defenseman Ken Klee spent Sunday night in a Rochester hospital after suffering what Murray described as a concussion. Klee, a rookie from Bowling Green, was checked and hit his face on the boards. His forehead was cut and a tooth was cracked. Klee was released this morning and flew home. ... John Druce has a touch of flu and did not play.