Semyon Varlamov

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was arrested Wednesday in Denver on second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault charges, the Denver Post reported on its website. According to the newspaper, the kidnapping charge is a Class 4 felony charge and the assault charge is a misdemeanor. Varlamov, whose outstanding play has been a key factor in the Avalanche's 10-1-0 start, was to remain in jail Wednesday night and make an appearance before a judge Thursday morning.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was arrested Wednesday in Denver on second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault charges, the Denver Post reported on its website. According to the newspaper, the kidnapping charge is a Class 4 felony charge and the assault charge is a misdemeanor. Varlamov, whose outstanding play has been a key factor in the Avalanche's 10-1-0 start, was to remain in jail Wednesday night and make an appearance before a judge Thursday morning.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a 28-second span of the second period, and the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday to end a four-game losing streak. Alexander Semin and Matt Bradley also scored for the Capitals, who had lost 11 straight to San Jose since February 1999. Evgeni Nabokov was 8-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average lifetime versus Washington before Thursday. Capitals goalie Jose Theodore left after the first period with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Semyon Varlamov, who stopped all 15 shots he faced.

KINGS TONIGHT At COLORADO When: 6 PST. Where: Pepsi Center. On the air: TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: 1150. Records: Kings 27-21-12, Avalanche 29-27-4. Record vs. Avalanche: 0-2-1. Update: This will complete a back-to-back sequence for the Kings, who are 3-3-4 in the second game of previous back-to-back sequences. With a goal and an assist Tuesday in a 5-4 shootout loss at Phoenix, Dustin Brown had his first multi-point game since Jan. 14. The Avalanche on Tuesday added depth up front by acquiring gritty Steve Downie from Tampa Bay for defenseman Kyle Quincey, who was traded on to Detroit.

KINGS TONIGHT At COLORADO When: 6 PST. Where: Pepsi Center. On the air: TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: 1150. Records: Kings 27-21-12, Avalanche 29-27-4. Record vs. Avalanche: 0-2-1. Update: This will complete a back-to-back sequence for the Kings, who are 3-3-4 in the second game of previous back-to-back sequences. With a goal and an assist Tuesday in a 5-4 shootout loss at Phoenix, Dustin Brown had his first multi-point game since Jan. 14. The Avalanche on Tuesday added depth up front by acquiring gritty Steve Downie from Tampa Bay for defenseman Kyle Quincey, who was traded on to Detroit.

WASHINGTON — Marty Turco made 49 saves, Brad Richards had a goal and an assist, and the Dallas Stars scored three times in six shots early in the third period en route to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Capitals on Monday night, ending Washington's club-record home winning streak at 13 games. Washington's Alex Ovechkin ended a six-game goal drought, his longest of the season, by scoring twice to match Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the league lead with 44. Ovechkin's second goal came with 3:16 left in the third period and tied the score.

Danny Briere pounced on a loose puck and knocked in the rebound at 3:52 of overtime to keep the Philadelphia Flyers perfect and lift them to a 6-5 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Mike Richards bested Alex Ovechkin with his second career hat trick to help the Flyers improve to 3-0 for the first time since the 1998-99 season. Ovechkin scored twice and has five goals already in three games this season for Washington (2-0-1). Ovechkin and Richards scored all their goals in a can-you-top-this second period.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 45 shots, Andrew Ladd and Rich Peverley each had a goal and an assist, and the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Capitals, 3-1, on Saturday night to snap a nine-game losing streak in Washington. It was the seventh win in eight games for the Thrashers, a run that began with Pavelec shutting out Washington in Atlanta on Nov. 19. The Thrashers are 3-1-1 against the Capitals after going 0-6 against their Southeast Division rivals last season. Alex Ovechkin's goal-scoring drought ended at nine games, which tied a career high, but the Capitals fell to 12-2-1 at home with their first loss against Atlanta at Verizon Center since February 2008.

WASHINGTON ? Martin St. Louis scored off a rebound 2:54 into overtime, and Dwayne Roloson made 34 saves in his Tampa Bay debut, leading the Lightning to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night that broke the teams' tie for the lead atop the Southeast Division. St. Louis poked the puck past Semyon Varlamov after a shot by Pavel Kubina ricocheted out, ending Washington's three-game winning streak. The Lightning has won nine of 11 and moved into a tie with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference lead with 53 points.

DENVER — Paul Stastny scored two goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped 32 shots and the Colorado Avalanche picked up a 4-1 victory Wednesday night for their first season sweep of the Kings in nearly two decades. Mark Olver and Jay McClement also scored for the Avalanche, which has won three straight at home and moved to within two points of the Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Colorado was 4-0 against the Kings this season, the first time the team has swept the series since 1992-93, when the franchise was in Quebec.

DENVER — Paul Stastny scored two goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped 32 shots and the Colorado Avalanche picked up a 4-1 victory Wednesday night for their first season sweep of the Kings in nearly two decades. Mark Olver and Jay McClement also scored for the Avalanche, which has won three straight at home and moved to within two points of the Kings for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Colorado was 4-0 against the Kings this season, the first time the team has swept the series since 1992-93, when the franchise was in Quebec.

WASHINGTON ? Martin St. Louis scored off a rebound 2:54 into overtime, and Dwayne Roloson made 34 saves in his Tampa Bay debut, leading the Lightning to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night that broke the teams' tie for the lead atop the Southeast Division. St. Louis poked the puck past Semyon Varlamov after a shot by Pavel Kubina ricocheted out, ending Washington's three-game winning streak. The Lightning has won nine of 11 and moved into a tie with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for the Eastern Conference lead with 53 points.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 45 shots, Andrew Ladd and Rich Peverley each had a goal and an assist, and the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Capitals, 3-1, on Saturday night to snap a nine-game losing streak in Washington. It was the seventh win in eight games for the Thrashers, a run that began with Pavelec shutting out Washington in Atlanta on Nov. 19. The Thrashers are 3-1-1 against the Capitals after going 0-6 against their Southeast Division rivals last season. Alex Ovechkin's goal-scoring drought ended at nine games, which tied a career high, but the Capitals fell to 12-2-1 at home with their first loss against Atlanta at Verizon Center since February 2008.

EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAM PREVIEWS In predicted order of rankings (division leaders are 1-2-3) Washington Capitals 2009-10 record: 54-15-13, 121 points. Power play: 25.2% (first). Penalty killing: 78.8% (25th). Team goals-against average: 2.72 (16th). Leading scorer: Alex Ovechkin 50-59?109. Outlook: They squandered a 3-1 series lead and were upset by the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, which should fire them up this season.

WASHINGTON — Marty Turco made 49 saves, Brad Richards had a goal and an assist, and the Dallas Stars scored three times in six shots early in the third period en route to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Capitals on Monday night, ending Washington's club-record home winning streak at 13 games. Washington's Alex Ovechkin ended a six-game goal drought, his longest of the season, by scoring twice to match Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby for the league lead with 44. Ovechkin's second goal came with 3:16 left in the third period and tied the score.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a 28-second span of the second period, and the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 4-1 on Thursday to end a four-game losing streak. Alexander Semin and Matt Bradley also scored for the Capitals, who had lost 11 straight to San Jose since February 1999. Evgeni Nabokov was 8-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average lifetime versus Washington before Thursday. Capitals goalie Jose Theodore left after the first period with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Semyon Varlamov, who stopped all 15 shots he faced.

EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAM PREVIEWS In predicted order of rankings (division leaders are 1-2-3) Washington Capitals 2009-10 record: 54-15-13, 121 points. Power play: 25.2% (first). Penalty killing: 78.8% (25th). Team goals-against average: 2.72 (16th). Leading scorer: Alex Ovechkin 50-59?109. Outlook: They squandered a 3-1 series lead and were upset by the eighth-seeded Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs, which should fire them up this season.

Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves for his first regular-season shutout, Alex Ovechkin scored before drawing a third-period ejection, and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres, 2-0, Wednesday night. Eric Fehr also scored for the Capitals, who had lost four of five. Varlamov, who had two shutouts in the playoffs last spring against the New York Rangers, wasn't severely tested until the third period, when Ovechkin's absence put Washington at a disadvantage. Ovechkin drew a major for boarding and a game misconduct 3:38 into the third period when he ran Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta into the boards.

Danny Briere pounced on a loose puck and knocked in the rebound at 3:52 of overtime to keep the Philadelphia Flyers perfect and lift them to a 6-5 win over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Mike Richards bested Alex Ovechkin with his second career hat trick to help the Flyers improve to 3-0 for the first time since the 1998-99 season. Ovechkin scored twice and has five goals already in three games this season for Washington (2-0-1). Ovechkin and Richards scored all their goals in a can-you-top-this second period.