The Washington Capitals leapfrogged New Jersey to the top of the NHL standings with a 4-1 win over the Devils Saturday. Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom each had a goal and two assists for Washington, which has 54 points, one more than New Jersey and Pittsburgh. Washington won its third straight and ended New Jersey's five-game winning streak. Mike Green and Matt Bradley added goals for Washington, while Rod Pelley scored for New Jersey. Blackhawks 4, Predators 1: In Nashville, Tennessee, Chicago maintained its lead in the Western Conference by beating Nashville. Cristobal Huet made 25 saves, and Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Kane, Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp scored for Chicago, which is level on points with San Jose atop the West, but with a game in hand. Martin Erat scored for Nashville. Coyotes 3, Kings 2: In Glendale, Arizona, Phoenix held on to beat Los Angeles and notch its franchise record-equalling ninth straight home win. Keith Yandle scored the winner with 9:20 to go, after Adrian Aucoin and Martin Hanzal also scored for the Coyotes, who matched the franchise record set in 1992-93 when the team was in Winnipeg. Michal Handzus and Dustin Brown scored for Los Angeles. Avalanche 4, Stars 1: In Denver, Colorado extended its lead in the Northwest Division to five points by defeating Dallas. Peter Budaj made 39 saves for Colorado. Chris Stewart scored twice, Chris Durno had his first NHL goal, and Milan Hejduk also found the net. Steve Ott scored for Dallas. Sharks 5, Ducks 2: In San Jose, California, Patrick Marleau scored twice in the first period, the first his 300th career goal, as San Jose beat Anaheim. Marleau scored the milestone goal at 2:15 of the first period, and added No. 301 on a power play. He has 25 goals this season. Dany Heatley added his 23rd goal of the season in the second period, while Ryane Clowe and Jamie McGinn added goals for the Sharks, who extended their winning run to four. Kyle Chipchura and Bobby Ryan scored for the Ducks. Senators 3, Sabres 2, SO: In Buffalo, New York, Alex Kovalev and Mike Fisher scored in the shootout to help Ottawa beat Buffalo for the seventh straight time. Ryan Shannon and Chris Neil scored in regulation for the Senators, which moved within six points of the Northeast Division-leading Sabres. Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville scored for Buffalo. Wild 4, Blues 3: In St. Paul, Minnesota, Guillaume Latendresse scored twice to lift Minnesota to a tight win over St. Louis. Shane Hnidy and Kim Johnsson added goals, and Niklas Backstrom stopped 15 shots for the Wild. St. Louis' goals came from Andy McDonald, David Perron and Patrik Berglund. Red Wings 2, Blue Jackets 1: In Detroit, Todd Bertuzzi scored both goals as Detroit came back to edge Columbus. Jimmy Howard made 28 saves for the Red Wings, who ended a three-game losing streak. Antoine Vermette gave Columbus the lead, but the Blue Jackets lost their ninth straight. In other games it was: Canucks 4, Oilers 1; Lightning 4, Thrashers 3; Islanders 3, Rangers 2, OT; Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 2, OT; Flyers 4, Hurricanes 3, SO. Alfredsson out for 6 weeks Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, a key player in Sweden's 2006 Olympic gold medal run, will be out for four to six weeks with a separated left shoulder that could jeopardize his 2010 Olympics. The Senators announced late Saturday that Alfredsson will join a huge injury list for the National Hockey League club, possibly missing every game until the NHL's February break for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
