The Colorado Avalanche dropped their fourth and final regular season game against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon, 4-1. There wasn't much good to be found in this one for the Avs.
Anze Kopitar scored the first goal of the game at 10:30 in the first period, but in the second he would leave with what has been variously reported as a right ankle or right knee injury. He did not return to the game. Michael Handzus added a second goal in the period for a 2-0 Kings lead in the first.
In the closing minutes of the second period, Milan Hejduk put the Avalanche on the board with his 20th goal of the season. Paul Stastny was credited with an assists on the play. But the game slipped away about 90 seconds into the third period when Ryan Smyth scored his 21st goal of the season. Trevor Lewis scored the Kings' fourth goal midway through the period.
Jonathan Quick faced 21 shots and stopped 20 of them. Meanwhile, in an all too common occurrence, Peter Budaj, still looking for win No. 100, allowed blocked 21 shots on 25 attempts.
This loss sent Colorado to 28-38-8 (64 points) with eight games left to play. They will take the ice again when they face the Anaheim Ducks on the road in a Monday competition.