NHL roundup: Capitals continue hot streak on the ice

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and assist, and Jose Theodore made 31 saves to help the surging Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Chris Bourque, the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, netted his first NHL goal, and Brooks Laich and Boyd Gordon also scored for the Capitals (24-11-3), who won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Adam Mair and Clarke MacArthur scored for Buffalo (17-15-5), which has lost four of five (1-2-2). Ryan Miller made 27 saves.

Washington won despite star winger Alex Ovechkin being held without a point for only the second time in 11 games.

RED WINGS 4, BLACKHAWKS 0: At Detroit, Ty Conklin made 36 saves for his seventh NHL shutout, and Johan Franzen scored twice as Detroit snapped Chicago's team-record, nine-game winning streak.

Pavel Datsyuk added a goal and an assist, Tomas Kopecky scored his second of the season, and Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall each had two assists in the Red Wings' 700th game against the Blackhawks.

Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 35 shots for Chicago in the start of a home-and-home series that will conclude Thursday outside at Wrigley Field in the Winter Classic. The Blackhawks had earned at least one standings point in 11 consecutive games.

CANADIENS 2, LIGHTNING 1 (SO): At Tampa, Fla., Maxim Lapierre scored the winning shootout goal to lift Montreal over Tampa Bay.

The Canadiens won the shootout 2-1 to complete a two-game, two-day sweep in the Sunshine State. Montreal beat the Florida Panthers 5-2 on Monday.

Guillaume Latendresse scored Montreal's goal in regulation. The Canadiens have won five of six.

Vinny Prospal scored for the Lightning, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

BRUINS 5, PENGUINS 2: At Pittsburgh, Marc Savard scored a power-play goal, then set up Boston's next two goals, and the streaking Bruins ran their longest winning streak in nearly 26 years to nine games by beating Pittsburgh.

Dennis Wideman had a goal and two assists as the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins improved to 23-2-1 in their last 26 games, outscoring opponents 106-51. Tim Thomas stopped 32 shots to win his seventh in a row.