Kovalchuk told Russia's R-Sport (via the Denver Post) that Varlamov and Evgeniya Vavrinyuk, his ex-girlfriend and the woman who filed assault charges against him should patch things up.

"I hope to God it all pans out well and maybe he can somehow reach an agreement with his princess and finally she’d be given a green card, which she really wants,” said Kovalchuk, who's in his first season with KHL St. Petersburg after several years of stardom in the NHL.

Kovalchuk is entitled to support his friend (and presumed Olympic teammate), but facts are facts: Varlamov, a goalie for the Colorado Avalanche, has indeed been charged with domestic abuse by a district attorney, and will enter his plea in court on Jan. 22. The situation is not minor, and it shouldn't be minimized by Kovalchuk or anyone else.

It's also the latest instance of a Russian hockey figure slagging Vavrinyuk, which is pretty gross. National team general manager Alexei Kasatonov said last month that Varlamov is playing too well to be guilty.

"Semyon's in good form now, continuing to show that he's one of the best goaltenders in the NHL and showing with his game that the truth is on his side," Kasatonov said. "(Varlamov) is not that kind of guy and would not be capable of such a dirty deed."

Also, regardless of what happened, it seems like a bad idea for Varlamov and Vavrinyuk to get back together. But that's not anyone else's business, we suppose.

Varlamov could face a sentence ranging from probation to two years in jail and deportation if convicted. He is free on $5,000 bond and has been traveling and playing with the team. If the case is not settled (by a plea bargain, say) before the Sochi Winter Olympics start on Feb. 7, Varlamov could petition the court to allow him to travel to Russia for the games.

If he does make it to the Olympics — and boy, would that make Kovalchuk and Co. happy — he'd likely start in goal. He's 13-8-0 with a .922 save percentage and 2.46 goals-against average. Sergei Bobrovsky, Varlamov's chief competition for the job, will miss the next few weeks with a knee injury.


CALLAHAN AT A LOSS


Ryan Callahan, all told, would probably rather not be dealing with a knee sprain.

The New York Rangers captain has an Olympic team to make, and a new contract to play for, and a key homestand to deal with. All of that, at least for the moment, is in doubt; Callahan has a sprained knee that will keep him out 4-6.

The Rangers are 15-16-1 and on the outside of the playoff picture. They've lost the first three games of season-high nine straight at Madison Square Garden before the Olympics break.

At the start of the season, it seemed a lock that Callahan would head to Sochi for the break with the U.S. national team, but that has to be at least somewhat in doubt at the moment — Team USA is strong on the wings, and Callahan's best asset, when he's on his game, is combining skill with physicality.

He's got seven points and six assists in 22 games so far, and injuries could be taking their toll; he dealt with a broken thumb on October. Sometimes, it's not your year; if that's the case with Callahan in 2013, it'd be a particularly crummy stroke of luck.


COWEN GETS TWO


Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen was suspended for two games by the NHL on Wednesday for a hit to the head against Buffalo's Zemgus Girgensons.

Cowen struck Girgensons late in the third period of Ottawa's shootout loss game in Buffalo on Tuesday night. No penalty was called on the play.

Girgensons scored the shootout winner.

The suspension will cost Cowen $31,795.


PANIK GETS TWO, TOO


Tampa Bay forward Richard Panik was suspended for two games without pay by the NHL for boarding Washington defenseman Karl Alzner.

Panik was given a major penalty for boarding in the second period of the Lightning's shootout loss Tuesday night in Washington. The suspension will cost him $7,590.

Contributors: Sean Gentille, The Associated Press