Capitals 2, Avalanche 1: All-Star Alex Ovechkin scored his 22nd goal of the season and set a team record with his 74th career game-winning tally as red-hot Washington extended its point streak to eight games (6-0-2) with its sixth consecutive victory at home.

Jay Beagle also tallied and Braden Holtby made 31 saves as the Capitals - and the netminder - improved to 13-1-4 in their last 18 games. Holtby, who extended team records with his 19th straight start and 25th appearance in a row, was at his best in the third period as he stopped 18 shots - six during a power play early in the session.

Alex Tanguay recorded his 13th goal - and first on the power play - for Colorado, which was denied its first four-game winning streak of the season while losing for the second time in seven contests. Semyon Varlamov had his three-game winning streak snapped despite making 36 saves for the Avalanche.

After Varlamov received a penalty for roughing Tom Wilson in front of the net, Ovechkin moved into the right faceoff circle and collected a pass from Troy Brouwer before beating the goaltender between the pads with 2:14 left in the second period for his sixth goal in seven games. After Colorado pulled Varlamov with more than two minutes left in the third, it could not get the equalizer despite Tanguay sliding a shot through the crease as Holtby was down and out with 1:07 remaining.

Beagle controlled the rebound of Jason Chimera's shot and swept a backhander past Varlamov on the blocker side at 7:34 of the first period to give Washington a 1-0 lead. Colorado got even when Iginla skated down the left-wing boards and feathered a pass to Tanguay, who banged his own rebound past Holtby's right skate at 10:58 of the second.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Capitals improved to 22-1-3 when scoring first and 20-1-2 when leading after two periods, with both win totals leading the NHL. ... The Avalanche killed 17 consecutive penalties over a span of five games before Ovechkin's goal, his 10th on the power play. ... Washington has scored with the man advantage in five of its last six games, and the NHL's No. 4 power play entering Monday at 23.8 percent is 5-for-16 during that span. ... Peter Bondra scored 73 game-winning goals for Washington from 1990-2004.