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BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (AP) – The longer the streak lasts, the better the
Washington Capitals are playing.
Washington extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games as Jeff
Halpern, Dmitri Khristich and Calle Johansson scored in a 3-1
victory Friday night over Montreal.
"We haven't let down," Washington coach Ron Wilson said.
"When you have a streak like this, you don't want it to end."
Washington has won four straight and gone 9-0-2 over the 11-game
stretch, the third-best unbeaten streak in team history. The
Capitals have twice recorded 14-game unbeaten streaks, the best
being a 13-0-1 run from Jan. 17-Feb. 18, 1983.
Halpern and linemates Ulf Dahlen and Steve Konowalchuk turned in
another stellar performance as Washington controlled the game from
start to finish.
Dahlen had two assists and Konowalchuk had one. Wilson started
the line during the last several games, and it has been a big
factor in the unbeaten streak.
"My two linemates are playing unbelievable," Halpern said.
"When they're playing like that and setting me up, I could have
had about four just from them giving me passes right in front of
the net. I think as a team when things are going right, we look
real good."
The Capitals held a 32-26 advantage in shots and nearly posted
their fourth shutout of the season – Montreal's Oleg Petrov scored
with 3:53 left in the game.
Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig wasn't tested often, but still had
to make 25 saves.
The Caps dominated throughout and could have turned the game
into a rout, but couldn't convert on several odd-man rushes and
breakaways. Montreal goalie Jose Theodore finished with 29 saves as
the Canadiens lost their fourth straight.
The Capitals scored on two of their first three shots, limited
Montreal to only two shots and held the Canadiens without a shot on
three power plays en route to a 2-0 lead after one period.
The early lead was too much for the Canadiens to overcome.
"Against a team like Washington, it's a tough way to start a
game," Montreal coach Michel Therrien said. "They played with
confidence. It's not for nothing that they're the best team out
there in the NHL."
Halpern knocked in a loose puck after a scramble in front 3:23
into the game and has scored the first goal in three consecutive
games. Khristich made it 2-0 by one-timing a perfect feed from
behind the cage by Adam Oates.
Johansson made it 3-0 with a power-play goal early in the third
period. The Capitals have scored extra-man goals in nine
consecutive games.
Game notes
The Caps are 9-0-4-0 when Halpern scores a goal. ...
Montreal led the league with 397 man-games lost due to injury
coming into the game. ... Oates stretched his point-scoring streak
to nine games, which tied him with Philadelphia's Daymond Langkow
for the longest current string in the NHL. ... Friday was the
Capitals' fifth sellout of the season. ... Montreal has its fourth
losing streak of at least four games this season.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Montreal Clubhouse
Washington Clubhouse
RECAPS
Phoenix 7
Buffalo 3
Carolina 3
New Jersey 2
Washington 3
Montreal 1
Pittsburgh 6
NY Rangers 4
Detroit 4
St. Louis 2
Chicago 1
Atlanta 0
Dallas 5
Boston 4
Colorado 4
Minnesota 1
San Jose 3
Anaheim 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Sheldon Souray thinks he has a goal, but Olaf Kolzig gets enough of the puck to pop it up and dive on it.
avi: 1134 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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