DENVER — The milestones were aplenty, the returns touching and the goal-scoring still in the Avalanche’s favor.

Colorado earned its sixth consecutive victory in Tuesday’s 3-2 triumph over the Washington Capitals at Ball Arena. The victory was Jared Bednar’s 266th — the most in franchise history — and veteran defenseman Erik Johnson’s 700th career game with the Avs. Superstar Nathan MacKinnon also set up Artturi Lehkonen in the game’s opening goal to record his 700th career regular-season point.

Two members of the 2022 Stanley Cup championship run made their returns. Goalie Darcy Kuemper, who signed a five-year deal with the Caps and Nicolas Aube-Kubel, an early-season waiver pickup from Toronto, were honored with a video tribute during the first commercial break.

“I’m glad it’s here and gone so we can stop talking about it, to be honest with you,” a cheerful Jared Bednar said of his franchise coaching wins record, passing Michel Bergeron (265) of the Quebec Nordiques.

Bednar had spent the past handful of days reflecting on his imminent record.

Forwards Andrew Cogliano and Alex Newhook had the other goals for Colorado, which has not trailed at any point in each of its six straight victories. The Avs continued to compile goals at 5 on 5 on their way to another regulation victory. Both categories have been historically strong in recent years for Colorado but early-season struggles were starting to become a concern before this stretch.

Despite failing to get a power-play opportunity all evening, the Avs also successfully won the special teams battle, killing off both penalties they took. They improved to 14-for-15 on the penalty kill during this six-game run.

“I don’t know that we did enough with the puck offensively or in any of the three zones to force them into taking a penalty,” Bednar said. “It’s a good indication on most nights. The penalties you draw are because you get dangerous and you’re making plays.”

Easily their best penalty killer, and performer, was goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. He made 37 saves, including 14 in the third to keep the Caps from sending this game to overtime. Georgiev’s best save of the evening came late on a chance from defenseman Erik Gustafsson.

“I was just in the moment and taking it one second at a time,” Georgiev said of his third consecutive victory and 19th of the season.

Washington had more energy early and it led to a few opportunities to get on the board. Thanks to Georgiev, Colorado was able to keep the Caps off the board and continue its run of scoring the first goal. The Caps’ best opportunity in the first period was a shot from Conor Sheary that beat Georgiev but hit the post.

Lehkonen’s opening tally, his sixth in as many games, gave Colorado the opening goal in the first period once again. In the second period, the Avs got another tally from its depth as Cogliano redirected a point shot from Kurtis MacDermid to make it 2-0. After Sheary scored the Caps’ first goal, Newhook used a burst of speed to get past defender Dmitry Orlov before firing it past Kuemper.

Newhook spent a long stretch of the season on the wing after failing to take advantage of a top center role early in the year. After comments from Bednar that he prefers to use Newhook on the wing, the 21-year-old earned another shot down the middle, centering Logan O’Connor and Cogliano — two wingers that have been a stable pair all year.

The move has since paid dividends as Newhook has four goals and six points in as many games.

“I feel comfortable playing both positions but I’ve probably played more center throughout my career,” Newhook said.

Cogliano added: “Newy’s played well lately. He’s on the puck, he’s shooting well, he’s skating well and we could use his talent. He’s really good in tight areas. He’s really good at making plays. He’s a guy that when he gets an opportunity to put it in the back of the net, he does.”

Bednar’s record was one that years ago perhaps felt like a pipe dream. Following a 22-46-4 record in his first season behind the bench in 2016-17, the 50-year-old said he was unsure if his coaching tenure was going to continue. But Joe Sakic and the rest of the Avs’ brass gave him another chance and it’s since paid off.

The Avs have been the best team in the Western Conference by a wide margin since the 2017-18 season and rank fourth in the NHL in points percentage under Bednar’s tutelage. The milestone victory was also his 500th career game behind the bench.