BUFFALO, New York (AP) Washington extended its winning streak to eight games by beating Buffalo 2-0 on Monday and moved within a point of Dallas for the overall NHL lead.
Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made 31 saves to help Washington boost its lead in the Metropolitan Division to 12 points over the New York Rangers, who lost at Nashville.
Alex Ovechkin scored 19 seconds into the second period and Jay Beagle scored about 12 minutes later to help the Eastern Conference-leading Capitals improve to 27-6-2; the best start in franchise history.
Holtby got his 22nd career shutout and second this season. He leads the NHL with 23 victories and is 15-0-1 in his past 17 games.
Sabres forward Evander Kane played for the first time since The Buffalo News reported that police were investigating a sex crime allegation against him.
Minnesota’s Mikko Koivu scored twice to lead the Wild past Detroit 3-1.
Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves in a surprise appearance. He was expected to miss the game after receiving stitches to his arm after Sunday’s practice, but took his place because replacement Darcy Kuemper was a late scratch with an upper-body injury.
Charlie Coyle scored while Koivu scored a power-play goal in the third and added an empty-net tally for Minnesota, which had lost three of four.
Pavel Datsyuk scored for the Red Wings.
Nashville’s James Neal scored twice in a 5-3 win for the Predators against the New York Rangers.
Mike Ribeiro had three assists while Filip Forsberg, Craig Smith and Ryan Ellis also scored for the Predators.
Jesper Fast, Rick Nash and J.T. Miller netted for the Rangers.
Montreal’s Max Pacioretty scored in the third round of the shootout to five the Canadiens a 4-3 win against Tampa Bay, ending a six-game losing streak.
Los Angeles’ Tyler Toffoli recorded a hat trick to lead the Kings past Vancouver 5-0.
Colorado ended a run of 13 successive losses at San Jose by beating the Sharks 6-3.
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