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. 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. 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. Canadiens 2, Lightning 1, SO: At Tampa, Florida, 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. 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. Devils 4, Blues 3: At St. Louis, Zach Parise scored twice and New Jersey earned its fifth win in seven games by beating St. Louis. Other results: Maple Leafs 4, Thrashers 3, OT; Flyers 3, Canucks 2; Senators 3, Oilers 2.
