WASHINGTON — Thirty games into the 82-game NHL season, and nearly six weeks after the Matt Duchene trade, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic discussed the state of his team before Tuesday’s 5-2 loss at the Washington Capitals. From the visiting management suite at Capital One Arena, Sakic said the recent 1-4 homestand was the dark point of the season but he liked how his young team responded, going 2-1 on the road trip before Tuesday’s loss.