WASHINGTON (AP) - It had been 24 days since the Chicago Blackhawks celebrated a victory, so it mattered little that they blew a three-goal lead and allowed a whopping 37 shots on goal.
For the struggling Blackhawks, the two-point jump in the standings made this ugly game seem as pretty as a flawless diamond.
Chicago ended its 10-game losing streak Tuesday night, getting an overtime goal from Kyle Calder and 34 saves from seldom-used goaltender Adam Munro in a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals.
``We've played well enough in a lot of the games that we've lost. This maybe wasn't our best, but it was a win,'' Blackhawks coach Trent Yawney said.
Seeking their first win since Dec. 16, the Blackhawks built a 3-0 lead in the opening 23 minutes. Although the Capitals came back to force overtime, Chicago ended a skid that came dangerously close to the club record of 12, set at the end of the 1950-51 season.
``It's a good start for us tonight,'' said winger Matthew Barnaby, who scored the Blackhawks' first goal. ``We want to win hockey games. We're not going to make any excuses about the way we played. We're just going to try to play better.''
Calder scored the game-winner after arriving at the net at the same time as Washington defenseman Shaone Morrisonn and a shot by Chicago's Tyler Arnason. Calder managed to get the puck past goaltender Olie Kolzig, and the goal stood after a replay review.
Just like that, the Blackhawks' skid was over.
``You never think you can lose that many in a row, but it sure adds up in a hurry,'' Calder said.
Munro made several clutch saves in his eighth career NHL game, the first since April 2004. His only other NHL victory came against Washington on March 12, 2004.
Alexander Ovechkin had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have lost five straight - all at home.
``We should never get in a situation where we have to have a valiant effort to come back,'' Washington coach Glen Hanlon said. ``We should be able to execute a little better at the start and not get ourselves in that position.''
The Capitals trailed 3-0 before Brendan Witt scored on a wrist shot from the right circle at 11:19 of the second period. It was the defenseman's 20th career goal in 607 games, the first since April 1, 2004.
Less than 2 minutes later, Ovechkin squeezed a shot through Munro's pads, the rookie's team-high 26th goal of the season.
Ovechkin earned an assist on the tying goal, giving his 51 points at the midpoint of Washington's schedule. Ovechkin flicked a pass to Brian Sutherby in the slot with 16:33 left, an instant after a Washington power play expired.
The Capitals finished 0-for-7 with the extra man.
Barnaby scored the lone goal of the first period, converting a pass from a charging Mikael Holmqvist at 8:00.
A power-play goal by Radim Vrbata made it 2-0 in the first minute of the second period, and Chicago's Jaroslav Spacek was credited with a goal at 2:47 when the rebound of his shot hit Washington defenseman Jamie Heward and bounded into the net.
``We got a couple of bad bounces and found ourselves down 3-0,'' Sutherby said. ``It's getting to be a little disappointing. I guess we've just got to try and stay positive.''
Notes: Washington recalled LW Colin Forbes from Hershey (AHL). Forbes, who was acquired last month in a trade with Carolina, started on the top line with Ovechkin last month for Stephen Peat. ... Chicago C Chris Brown (sprained knee) missed his first game of the season. ... Capitals LW Matt Pettinger was scratched because of the flu, and C Jeff Halpern missed a fourth straight game with a groin injury.
