Varlamov makes 43 saves, Avalanche blank Canadiens

Kadri powers Maple Leafs past Blue Jackets 6-3

DENVER, Feb 15, (AP): Semyon Varlamov made 43 saves for his first victory in more than a month and the Colorado Avalanche matched the franchise record of 10 straight home wins, beating the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 on Wednesday night.

Carl Soderberg and Alexander Kerfoot scored to help Colorado match the longest home winning streak in franchise history, set in 1994-95 when the team was the Quebec Nordiques.

Antti Niemi stopped 23 shots for Montreal. The Canadiens are 8-17-1 on the road.

Varlamov’s last win came against Toronto on Dec. 29, and he left his next start against Winnipeg with a groin injury. He missed 10 games before returning against the Jets on Feb. 3.

Wednesday was his fourth since coming back and one of his best of the season. He denied the Canadiens on several chances in the third for his second shutout of the season.

With Montreal pressing for the equalizer late in the third, Kerfoot scored at 16:58 to give the Avalanche a two-goal cushion.

Colorado had more than two consecutive minutes of play in Montreal’s end early in the second period but didn’t score until Soderberg beat Niemi with a wraparound to make it 1-0 at 15:55.

Maple Leafs 6, Blue Jackets 3 In Toronto, Nazem Kadri had three goals and two assists, Frederik Andersen made a career-high 54 saves and the surging Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Patrick Marleau added a goal and two assists and Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist as Toronto closed out a perfect five-game hometand. It was Kadri’s fourth career hat trick, and the five points set a career high.

The Blue Jackets recorded 50 or more shots for the third straight game, making them the first team to accomplish the feat in the post-expansion era (since 1967-68). Nick Foligno had a goal and two assists, and Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves.

Panthers 4, Canucks 3 In Vancouver, British Columbia, Jamie McGinn and his Florida Panthers teammates were thinking about the shooting back home as they faced the Vancouver Canucks.

Many of the Panther players were emotional after their 4-3 victory Wednesday night. At least 17 people were killed in the shooting at Parkland, Fla. that’s near the practice facility.

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Bourque (front), is blocked by Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman David Schlemko (center), as goaltender Antti Niemi stops Bourque’s shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Feb 14, in Denver. (AP)

Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat (back), tries to get his stick on the puck as Florida Panthers’ Keith Yandle (front), defends after goalie James Reimer made a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game on Feb 14, in Vancouver, British Columbia....