Hossa earns point for record 12th straight game

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Marian Hossa and the streaking Ottawa Senators toyed with the reeling Washington Capitals on Friday night.

Hossa's second-period goal extended his point-scoring streak to a franchise-record 12 games and the Senators remained unbeaten in nine with a 6-2 victory over Washington.

"Everybody's on the same page and that makes it easier to do something right now,'' Hossa said.

Daniel Alfredsson scored twice and Martin Havlat had a goal and three assists for the Senators, who are 7-0-2 since losing at Boston on Nov. 9. The only longer undefeated streak this season belongs to the St. Louis Blues, who were 9-0-1 from Oct. 12-Nov. 9.

"I think we beat them in everything: skating, shooting the puck and passing,'' said Havlat, whose four points tied a career best. "I think we were the better team in every part. I think we played one of our best games this year.''

Chris Neil and Jason Spezza also scored for Ottawa.

Hossa's team-high 13th goal early in the second period gave him the longest points streak of the season. He broke the Senators' mark established by Alexei Yashin in 1998-99. Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux and Alexei Kovalev both had points in 11 consecutive games earlier this season.

Michael Nylander and Brian Sutherby scored for Washington, which is 2-5-1 in its last eight games. Nylander has goals in four straight games and five of six.

The return of wingers Peter Bondra and Jaromir Jagr failed to ignite the Capitals' offense. Bondra missed three games with back spasms, while Jagr sat out Wednesday's game with a sore groin.

Capitals rookie coach Bruce Cassidy has been preaching defensive responsibility, though it appears his team isn't listening.

"It's a tough sell right now,'' Cassidy said. "We haven't learned how to play away from the puck. We've got to get on the same page. ... We've got to get committed.''

Neil's first point of the season gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead 1:25 into the game. Mike Fisher beat Washington's Mike Grier to a dump-in in the left corner, circled the net and fed Neil on the doorstep.

Alfredsson made it 2-0. After Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig made two sliding saves on Todd White at the right post, the puck bounced to the left side, where Alfredsson converted.

Hossa scored 3:56 into the second on a power play, waiting between the circles to one-time a drop pass from Spezza on the left wing. Spezza scored a man-advantage goal in the third period for a 4-0 lead.

Nylander scored with 10:02 remaining, but his hooking penalty shortly thereafter set up Havlat's power-play score.

Game notes
To create a roster spot for Bondra, who was activated from the injured list, Washington waived RW Andreas Salomonsson, who had one assist in 18 games. ... D Anton Volchenkov was a healthy scratch after playing in Ottawa's first 20 games, while D Karel Rachunek played his first game of the season. ... Alfredsson's 15 lifetime goals vs. Washington are his most against any opponent.