WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Capitals, who haven't won more than two games in a row, are hoping that a few solid performances will lead to a winning streak.

Ulf Dahlen's goal 7:27 into the second period Saturday night lifted Washington into a 1-1 tie with the St. Louis Blues.

	Washington's Steve Konowalchuk breaks away from Blues defenseman Chris Pronger at the MCI Center on Saturday

Dahlen sneaked behind Blues goalie Roman Turek, who had knocked aside Jeff Toms' soft shot from the left side, and poked the puck in from the right post for his fourth goal.

"If we can be consistent and play this way every game, we're going to win a lot of hockey games," Dahlen said.

The tie gave Washington a two-game unbeaten streak (1-0-1) after an 0-3-1 skid. The Capitals improved to 11-4-1 in New Year's Day games.

The Blues came into the game with a 13-2-3 record against sub-.500 teams. But Washington's forwards kept the pressure on the usually dominant St. Louis defense, and the Blues' offense couldn't penetrate Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig.

"The forwards have to find seams, find holes," Blues defenseman Chris Pronger said. "We had a few turnovers we usually don't make. As a result, you're going to get tired."

Dahlen's goal came 51 seconds after Pierre Turgeon had given the Blues, who had won seven of 10 on the road, a 1-0 lead.

Chris Pronger sprung Turgeon on a breakaway, but his initial shot was blocked by Kolzig. Turgeon collected the rebound and tucked it under the crossbar at 6:36.

The goal, Turgeon's 16th of the season, extended his point-scoring streak to 14 games, second only this season to a 15-game streak by Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr from Oct. 1-Nov. 13.

However, Turgeon's streak of 12 consecutive games with an assist, the longest in the NHL this year, ended.

Kolzig withstood a five-shot barrage on a Blues power play early in the third period and said that span gave the Capitals a momentum boost.

"They put a lot of pressure on us and that could have been the deciding goal," said Kolzig, who made 32 saves. "We were stuck in our zone probably the whole two minutes. We had the same guys out there. I know my legs were burning."

Washington didn't record its first shot of the period until Calle Johansson one-timed a faceoff feed from Adam Oates with 9:46 left in the game and totaled only three shots for the final 20 minutes of regulation.

Washington outshot the Blues 6-5 in the extra period, and Peter Bondra of the Capitals had the best chance in overtime, failing to convert at the right post with 24 seconds remaining.

"The overtime had good action (but) they had all the shots, all the action. ... We have to be patient -- not turn the puck over to set up shots. When it's all said and done, we'll take the point," St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville said.