Red-hot Red Wings win

Pavel Datsyuk changed his shootout technique, and Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler followed his lead.

Each scored in the shootout to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Monday night in Detroit.

All three used the same move, a fake and a backhand shot, to beat Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig in the shootout.

Tomas Holmstrom had two goals, Zetterberg a goal and an assist and Datsyuk three assists in regulation for NHL-leading Detroit. Dominik Hasek made 27 saves.

Alexander Ovechkin, Jeff Schultz and Alexander Semin, who also had a shootout goal, scored for Washington. Kolzig stopped 27 shots.

Avalanche 4, Kings 2: At Los Angeles, Ryan Smyth and Jaroslav Hlinka scored 62 seconds apart early in the first period against Jason LaBarbera in the goalie’s first game off the injured list, and Colorado went on to beat the Kings.

Paul Stastny also had a goal and defensemen Brett Clark had two assists, the first one coming on Smyth’s power-play goal for Colorado.