THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Washington Capitals claimed defenceman Staffan Kronwall off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday and recalled blue-liner Karl Alzner from Hershey of the American Hockey League.

Kronwall has played in 52 games over two seasons with the Maple Leafs, but he had spent all of this season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

Alzner is back for his third stint with the Capitals this season, having played in 27 games so far.

He’s expected to provide a boost to a defence that had a rough game in Thursday night’s 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.