WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Rookie Alexander Semin's first NHL goal turned out to be a memorable one Friday night as Washington edged Atlanta, 2-1.
The Capitals snapped an eight-game winless streak and avoided matching their longest losing streak in nearly 14 years.
Semin picked up the puck with 30 seconds left in the opening period off a right side neutral zone draw and skated unchecked around Pasi Nurminen for an open net tally.
Washington was 0-7-1-0 since winning its season opener, including six losses in a row. They have not lost seven straight since an eight-game slide from Jan. 1-13, 1990.
Vyacheslav Kozlov opened the scoring for Atlanta on a power play 5 1/2 minutes into the contest. The advantage lasted just over two minutes. Matt Pettinger picked up the puck near the blue line and finished from down low with a wrist shot.
