NHL

L.A. puts end to Washington's run

WASHINGTON -- After a week of distractions, the Capitals let first place slip away by losing to a goaltender making his first start.

Rookie Alexander Frolov scored twice, and Cristobal Huet had 21 saves as the Kings knocked the Capitals out of the top spot in the Southeast with a 3-1 victory Friday night.

"Games like these come back to haunt you," Washington goaltender Olaf Kolzig said. "We've got 10 games left. If we don't play better, even if we make the playoffs it's not going to be a long postseason."

The loss ended the Capitals' streak of eight games with at least a point.

The Capitals' Jaromir Jagr, the center of the controversy because of tax problems and old gambling debts, missed his second game with a broken bone in his wrist.

WILD 3, PREDATORS 1: Dwayne Roloson had 22 saves for his career-high 19th victory for host Minnesota. Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Jim Dowd scored in the second, and Cliff Ronning added an empty-netter.

BLACKHAWKS 4, COYOTES 0: Jocelyn Thibault had 20 saves for his eighth shutout and 35th of his career for visiting Chicago. Steve Sullivan scored twice, and Kyle Calder added a goal for the Blackhawks.

Billionaire steps up to save Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Commissioner Gary Bettman introduced billionaire B. Thomas Golisano as the next owner of the Sabres on Friday. "I think people should stop worrying about the Sabres in Buffalo, because our knight on a white horse came riding in," Bettman said. Golisano has offered $92-million to buy the bankrupt team and said he will pay unsecured creditors even though he is not legally bound to do so. A hearing is set for Wednesday, when a schedule is expected to be drawn up to complete the sale process.

AVALANCHE: Defenseman Johnny Boychuk, Colorado's second pick in the 2002 draft, signed a long-term contract. Terms were not disclosed.

BLUES: Forward Keith Tkachuk will be sidelined at least one game with a wrist injury.

FLAMES: Forward Dean McAmmond was ruled ineligible for the rest of the season because of a technicality concerning his trade from Colorado. Calgary reacquired McAmmond on Tuesday after trading him to Colorado three days before the waiver draft. A player traded four weeks before the waiver draft cannot be reacquired by the same team within the same season.

LEAFS: Forwards Doug Gilmour (knee) and Gary Roberts (groin) will miss today's game against the Canucks, and Alexander Mogilny has left the team for personal reasons.

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