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Avs slip past Caps

Dec 18, 2011 - 7:57 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Erik Johnson had a goal and an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Washington Capitals, 2-1.

"It felt good," Johnson said about his game-winning goal. "It feels good the get back on the board and help the team win."

Cody McLeod also lit the lamp for the Avalanche, who had lost four of five. Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 25 saves.

Alexander Semin scored the lone goal for the Capitals, who had won three of four. But Washington was able to extend its streak of games with at least one goal scored to 31 contests to start the 2011-12 season, the longest streak to begin a season since Washington went 31 games without being shut out to kick off 2009-10.

Michal Neuvirth turned aside 26-of-28 shots in defeat.

McLeod gave Colorado a 1-0 lead just 2:49 into the game. A Capitals player and McLeod battled for the puck along the boards near the blue line. McLeod managed to flip the puck on net and beat a fooled Neuvirth.

Washington tied the game at the 13:09 mark of the middle stanza. Semin made a nice move to get by a Colorado player at the blue line before beating Giguere with a shot from the right circle.

Less than a minute later, Johnson gave the Avalanche the lead back. Johnson's slapper from the right point beat traffic in front and got past Neuvirth.

Giguere and Neuvirth each made seven saves in the third period.

"In the third period they had the lead and kind of sat back a bit and made it tough for us to get chances," Capitals forward Jason Chimera said about Colorado. "But we had enough to score goals and we got to put the puck in the net."

Game Notes

Colorado has won three of the last four meetings...The Avs started a four-game homestand on Saturday...Colorado has won five in a row at the Pepsi Center...Washington went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Colorado went 0- for-2 on the man advantage.