Henrik Sedin — the Canucks' captain — began Friday leading the NHL this season with 15 assists and tied for second with 18 points. Daniel Sedin is tied for seventh with 15 points (six goals, nine assists).

The Swedish natives have both played their entire careers in Vancouver. Daniel was selected second overall and Henrik third in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Henrik Sedin holds franchise records for most points (792), assists (610), and consecutive games played (629). He also has a franchise-best plus-200 rating, and is second in team history in games played (940) and third in game-winning goals (33).

Daniel Sedin ranks second in franchise history with 773 points.


LEAFS' ASHTON PUNISHED


Toronto Maple Leafs forward Carter Ashton was suspended for two games by the NHL on Friday for boarding Calgary Flames forward Derek Smith this week.

Ashton was given a minor penalty on the play, which occurred late in the second period of Toronto's 4-2 win at Calgary on Wednesday night. Ashton pushed Smith from behind, and Smith crashed heavily into the boards.

Ashton will forfeit $8,615.38 in salary. He has one assist and 12 penalty minutes in 10 games this season.


MASSIVE BRAWL


The Flyers tapped their Broad Street Bullies roots on Friday night, instigating a line brawl complete with a goalie "fight" against the Washington Capitals.

Philly's Wayne Simmonds got it all started eight seconds after the Capitals went up 7-0 in the third period. Soon after, Flyers goalie Ray Emery — who was torched for four goals in relief of Steve Mason — skated the length of the ice to punch counterpart Braden Holtby. Referee Francois St. Laurent chose to be a spectator for that bout; he also shooed away anyone who tried to protect Holtby, who needs work on his turtle game.



The refs handed out 114 minutes in penalties, with Emery receiving 29 of them. He also was one of five players who were ejected.

Emery was matter-of-fact about the whole thing.

"(Holtby) didn't want to fight, but I basically said, 'Protect yourself,'" Emery told reporters.

Why'd he and his teammates do it? Because, as in many of these situations, they were frustrated that they were getting worked.

"As a group, I think it's a frustrating night," Emery said. "Fans are frustrated, and we don't accept that. I think frustration sometimes shows that way."

The Caps, who were playing without star winger Alex Ovechkin (upper-body injury), won by that 7-0 count.


VARLAMOV PLAYS


Semyon Varlamov was the starting goalie for the Colorado Avalanche against the Dallas Stars two days after he spent the night in jail while prosecutors considered whether he should be charged with assaulting his girlfriend.

The 25-year-old Varlamov was arrested on suspicion of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault. He turned himself in on Wednesday, and on Thursday, Varlamov was released on a $5,000 bond during a court appearance in Denver.

Varlamov was allowed to travel with the team for Friday night's game but is ordered to stay away from girlfriend Evgenia Vavrinyuk, among other restrictions.

Varlamov improved his record to 8-1 with a 3-2 victory. He has a 1.78 goals against average and .944 save percentage for the Central Division-leading Avalanche.

Contributors: Tom Gatto, The Associated Press