National Hockey

NEWARK, N.J. — Based on recent results, the Washington Capitals are getting used to coach Peter Laviolette's new system. They are even winning games when Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin don't contribute a point.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Brian Elliott stopped 23 shots to shut out the Buffalo Sabres for a second time this season in leading the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-0 win on Saturday.

OTTAWA — Juuso Valimaki and the Calgary Flames have been talking a lot lately about the importance of quality starts. The Finnish defenceman helped put his team's plan into motion Saturday afternoon at Canadian Tire Centre.

EDMONTON — The Maple Leafs will be without star centre Auston Matthews when they take on the Edmonton Oilers Saturday. Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe says Matthews won't play due to a wrist injury that he's been dealing with for much of the year.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sabres starting goalie Linus Ullmark will miss at least the next month with a lower-body injury, leaving Buffalo with one established netminder.

Los Angeles Kings (9-7-3, fifth in the West Division) vs. Minnesota Wild (11-6-0, second in the West Division) St. Paul, Minnesota; Saturday, 8 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche (10-6-1, fourth in the West Division) vs. Arizona Coyotes (9-8-3, sixth in the West Division) Glendale, Arizona; Saturday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Colorado plays Arizona for a West Division matchup.

Boston Bruins (11-5-2, first in the East Division) vs. New York Rangers (7-8-3, sixth in the East Division) New York; Sunday, 12 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Brad Marchand leads Boston into a matchup with New York.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Colorado goalie Hunter Miska looked like he was cruising to his first NHL victory and shutout until the final two minutes on Friday night. That's when things got way more interesting than Miska — or the Avalanche — were expecting.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild blitzed the Los Angeles Kings with three goals in a span of just over three minutes in the first period and held on to win 3-1 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.