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Boudreau's Caps try to avoid fifth straight loss in clash with Avs

Dec 11, 2010 - 3:49 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals have never lost more than four games in a row since head coach Bruce Boudreau took over as head coach during the 2007-08 season.

The Caps, though, are in danger of doing just that as they carry a season- worst four-game slide into tonight's meeting with the Colorado Avalanche at Verizon Center.

Washington is 0-3-1 over its last four games -- losing the first three tests of a four-game homestand -- and was shut out for the third time in its last 11 games on Thursday following a 3-0 setback to Florida.

The Capitals were blanked despite having eight power-play opportunities and 36 shots on net, including 18 in the first period. Semyon Varlamov did his best in net, stopping the first 19 shots he faced before getting beat right before the buzzer to end the second period.

Varlamov allowed three goals on 32 shots faced in total.

"We didn't play how we have to play [on the power play] and you can see the results," said Washington's Alex Ovechkin, who has just two goals in his last 12 games. "We didn't work hard."

Washington has lost four straight for the first time since October of last season and hasn't been defeated in five in a row since Nov. 10-21, 2007. That skid cost Glen Hanlon his job the next day, with Boudreau taking over.

Not helping Washington's cause is a flu bug that is ripping through the locker room and has Alexander Semin, Brooks Laich, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson and Boyd Gordon questionable for tonight.

Colorado would love to see a short-handed Washington club as it closes out a five-game road trip. The Avalanche posted a 4-2 victory in Atlanta last night to snap a four-game slide (0-1-3) and five-game winless road drought (0-3-2).

Milan Hejduk scored the go-ahead goal 42 seconds into the third period before leaving with a groin injury, Tomas Fleischmann scored on the power play for his first goal in four games since being acquired from the Capitals, and Greg Mauldin scored short-handed.

Paul Stastny iced the game with an empty-net goal and Craig Anderson made 24 saves, including a crucial pad stop on a Ben Eager backhander with about two minutes to play.

"It was an important win from us, no question," said Colorado head coach Joe Sacco. "We really were ready to start the game tonight. That was the one thing we talked about before the game, being ready to start."

Colorado picked up its first road victory since Nov. 20 and is 7-6-3 as the guest this season.

The Capitals notched a 6-1 victory in Denver last season in the lone meeting between the clubs, giving them a victory in three of the last four games in this series.

Colorado has lost three of its last five trips to Washington and the franchise has just three wins in its last 11 trips to DC.