Shaone Morrisonn News

Michal Handzus scored a short-handed goal early in the third period to put Los Angeles ahead and Ryan Smyth connected on a power play, leading the Kings to a 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

A pair of first-place clubs will clash tonight in D.C., as the Washington Capitals welcome the Buffalo Sabres for a battle at Verizon Center.

The road-weary Washington Capitals finally have a break from their recent travel odyssey.

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- With tickets to Friday's game so scarce, Karl Alzner could only secure four to his first NHL game at GM Place, which is about a 20-minute drive from his home town of Burnaby, B.C..

In the past, a disappointment such as that, and the ensuing scramble to purchase additional tickets for friends and family, might have driven the Washington Capitals' top prospect to distraction. But these days, Alzner refuses to allow life's small complications to consume him -- a new outlook he says has made him more focused on the ice.

If the potential Olympians on the Washington Capitals' roster weren't thinking about the forthcoming games, the large set of Olympic rings in the harbor outside their hotel room windows here was probably a good reminder.

The Washington Capitals await word on the condition of Mike Green after the All-Star defenceman was forced to leave Tuesday's win over the Avalanche after being drilled from behind by Avs' forward David Koci .

TORONTO -- Saturday got off to an unsettling start for the Washington Capitals -- and it didn't get any better.

The Capitals arrived almost 12 hours late because of problems with their charter plane, then buckled beneath a sloppy defense and suspect goaltending in a 6-3 to the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs that an exasperated Coach Bruce Boudreau called 'a complete team letdown.'

'You get a 2-0 lead real early, it looks easy and you let up,' Boudreau said. 'We had a couple more chances that we were way too casual on. And then all of a sudden they get one, then they get two, and now they're sitting over there like, 'Hey, boys, let's go.' '

The Washington Capitals still have holes in their roster thanks to some long-term injuries -- Mike Knuble, Boyd Gordon and Quintin Laing will all be out for at least another week -- but those holes are up front.

TV/radio: CSN, AM-1500 Goalies: Capitals - Semyon Varlamov or Jose Theodore . Lightning - Antero Niittymaki or Mike Smith Injuries: Capitals - Out: RW Mike Knuble , LW Quintin Laing , C Boyd Gordon .

Alex Ovechkin scored two goals in his return from a two-game suspension and the Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 12th consecutive time, 3-0 on Monday night.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Washington Capitals' biggest ally Saturday night wore orange and black.

After Philadelphia Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo sucker-punched Matt Bradley late in the first period, the Capitals' power play struck back with even more force, scoring three times on the ensuing nine-minute advantage to key a surprisingly easy 8-2 victory at Wachovia Center.

The victory stretched the Capitals' winning streak to five games and ruined Peter Laviolette's debut behind the Flyers' bench.

The Flyers believe they were built this offseason to make a run at a Stanley Cup championship.

Alexander Semin had two goals and two assists in his return from a wrist injury and the Washington Capitals hardly missed the suspended Alex Ovechkin , beating the Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday night for their fourth straight victory.

If you toss out his two rocky outings at the start of the season, Semyon Varlamov is 8-1-2 with a 1.94 GAA.

The Washington Capitals won the game but may have lost their star. Nicklas Backstrom had two goals and an assist while added a goal and an assist, leading the Capitals past the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Monday night in a game left early with an apparent knee injury.

The first-place Washington Capitals will visit the lowly Carolina Hurricanes tonight when the Southeast Division rivals meet for a battle at RBC Center.

Could it be? A player is walking out of the team clinic rather than limping into it? Yes, it appears to be true.

The Capitals knew they were taking a chance when they handed the starting goaltending duties to Semyon Varlamov during last season's playoffs.

Tonights Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadians show down will feature for the Caps a season debut and a NHL debut.

Some elite teams in action during Friday night's six games. The Capitals, standing atop the East, put their 10-4-7 regulation record up against the Canadiens' dismal 2-11-8 regulation mark.