The Avalanche announced today that the team has acquired forward Maxime Talbot from the Flyers in exchange for forward Steve Downie.
 
Talbot, 29, has appeared in all 11 games for the Flyers this year, tallying a goal and one assist. A native of Lemoyne, Quebec, Talbot has recorded 77 goals and 77 assists for 154 points in 515 career games between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. 
 
“Maxime is a veteran forward who has won a Stanley Cup and has a lot of NHL experience,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic. “We look forward to him bringing that experience to our club.”
 
Talbot helped the Penguins win the 2009 Stanley Cup after tallying 13 points in 24 postseason games that spring. He scored both goals in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 series-clinching victory over the Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at Detroit. 

Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov has surrendered to Denver police on an arrest warrant on charges of kidnapping and third-degree assault in what authorities are calling a domestic violence incident.

Police released few details about the case Wednesday night during a news conference and declined to elaborate, other than to say it involved someone who Varlamov was in an intimate relationship with.

Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin sat out practice Wednesday with an upper-body injury and is questionable for the team's game Friday in Philadelphia, according to an NHL.com report.

Ovechkin was injured in the first period of the Capitals' 3-2 loss in Vancouver on Monday.

Ducks veteran forward Teemu Selanne is expected to miss two weeks after taking a high stick in the face in Anaheim's 3-2 victory over the Flyers on Tuesday night, according to an ESPN.com report on Wednesday.

Jaromir Jagr scored his 119th game-winning goal Tuesday night, the most for any player since 1967-68, scoring on a second-period breakaway to give the Devils a 2-1 victory over the Lightning.

The 684th goal of Jagr's 20-year NHL career put him one ahead of Phil Esposito. Gordie Howe holds the record with 121, according to Elias.

The Blue Jackets announced today that GM Jarmo Kekalainen has been named assistant general manager for Team Finland in advance of the 2014 Olympic Games to be held in February in Sochi, Russia.  Team Finland’s GM is hockey hall of famer Jari Kurri.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Jari Kurri, Head Coach Erkka Westerlund and the Finnish Ice Hockey Association at next year’s Olympic Games in Sochi,” said Kekalainen, a native of Tampere, Finland.  “Representing your country at the Olympics is a tremendous honor, so this is a very proud moment for my family and I.”

  

Peter Budaj made 27 saves for his 11th career NHL shutout, and Tomas Plekanec and Alex Galchenyuk provided the scoring as the Canadiens spoiled the Rangers' homecoming with a 2-0 win, according to an ESPN.com report on Monday night.

Lightning center Steven Stamkos, Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel and Canucks center Ryan Kesler have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Oct. 27.

Stamkos tied for the League lead with seven points (3-4—7) in helping the Lightning win a trio of games.

Kessel found the back of the net in all three of Toronto's games, leading the NHL with five goals while scoring on half of his 10 shots.

Kesler ranked second in the NHL with four goals and tied for third with six points as the Canucks closed a season-long, seven-game road trip with three consecutive wins (5-1-1 overall). 

The Islanders acquired forward Thomas Vanek from the Sabres on Sunday night for forward Matt Moulson, a first-round pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2015, according to an ESPN.com report.

The 29-year-old Vanek, a two-time 40-goal scorer, had four goals and nine assists in 13 games this season for Buffalo. In nine seasons with Buffalo, he had 254 goals and 243 assists in 598 games.

Henrik Lundqvist will be back in goal for the home opener Monday night after he sat out two games because of an undisclosed injury, according to an ESPN.com.

The Rangers took advantage of a light week of games and gave Lundqvist time off to heal from his ailment.