Avalanche 2, Capitals 1
Cody McLeod and defenseman Erik Johnson each scored his first goal of the season as the Colorado Avalanche extended their home winning streak to five games with a 2-1 triumph over the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
Johnson added an assist and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 25 saves for Colorado, which improved to 7-1-0 against the Eastern Conference.
The Avalanche took an early lead when McLeod's innocent shot toward the net from the left point eluded the glove of Michal Neuvirth 2:49 into the game.
Alexander Semin forged a tie with 6:51 remaining in the second, but Johnson restored Colorado's advantage 54 seconds later with a blast from the right point that beat a screened Neuvirth.
Neuvirth stopped 26 shots for Washington, which lost six of its last eight road games and fell to 4-5-0 under new coach Dale Hunter.