SB Nation Denver - Avalanche Vs. Kings: Los Angeles Sweeps Colorado In Regular Season Serieshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2011-03-26T16:41:02-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18380322011-03-26T16:41:02-06:002011-03-26T16:41:02-06:00Avalanche Vs. Kings Final Score: Colorado Goes Winless This Season Against LA Following 4-1 Loss
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighhockey.com/">Colorado Avalanche</a> dropped their fourth and final regular season game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/">Los Angeles Kings</a> on Saturday afternoon, 4-1. There wasn't much good to be found in this one for the Avs.</p>
<p><span>Anze Kopitar</span> 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.</p>
<p>In the closing minutes of the second period, <span>Milan Hejduk</span> put the Avalanche on the board with his 20th goal of the season. <span>Paul Stastny</span> was credited with an assists on the play. But the game slipped away about 90 seconds into the third period when <span>Ryan Smyth</span> scored his 21st goal of the season. <span>Trevor Lewis</span> scored the Kings' fourth goal midway through the period.</p>
<p><span>Jonathan Quick</span> faced 21 shots and stopped 20 of them. Meanwhile, in an all too common occurrence, <span>Peter Budaj</span>, still looking for win No. 100, allowed blocked 21 shots on 25 attempts.</p>
<p>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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.anaheimcalling.com/">Anaheim Ducks</a> on the road in a Monday competition.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/colorado-avalanche/2011/3/26/2074109/avalanche-vs-kings-final-score-anze-kopitar-milan-hejdukRuss Oates2011-03-26T15:08:56-06:002011-03-26T15:08:56-06:00Avalanche Vs. Kings: Can Colorado Win One Game Against LA This Season?
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<p><font size="2"> (Sports Network) - The Kings gave away a point last time out to hinder their quest at a Pacific Division title. A visit from the Avalanche figures to better their chances again today. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Los Angeles goes for its first season-series sweep of the Colorado franchise in 21 years this afternoon in a matchup at the Staples Center. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Kings trail the first-place Sharks by five points in the Pacific Division and beat San Jose, 4-3, in a shootout on Thursday. Los Angeles nearly took two points outright, but gave up a game-tying goal with only 4.1 seconds left in regulation. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Jonathan Quick</span> rebounded from that disappointment to make four saves in the tiebreaker and improve to 9-0 in shootouts this season. He ended with 24 saves through overtime, while <span>Dustin Brown</span> scored twice and had the winner in the deciding session to give the Kings their second straight victory and a 6-1-2 mark in their last nine. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "He played good. He played very hard, very intense and that's a big part of a captain's responsibility is to not only be a good player but to lead the way with intensity and compete and put the extra effort in to help a team get the job done," said Kings head coach Terry Murray of Brown. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Los Angeles, which played without forward <span>Justin Williams</span> due to a dislocated shoulder, is 2-1-1 on a five-game homestand and sits tied with Nashville for fifth overall in the Western Conference with 90 points. The Kings trail the fourth-place Coyotes by three points, but have played two fewer games and also have a game in hand over the Predators. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Kings haven't swept a season series with the Avs franchise since winning all three meetings with the Nordiques in 1989-90. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Quick has been in net for all three contests between the clubs this year and is a perfect 6-0 with a 2.83 goals-against average versus the franchise lifetime. Brown has three goals and two assists in the series this year. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Los Angeles has won four straight and seven of its last eight against Colorado, including three in a row at home. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Avalanche sit 14th overall in the Western Conference with 64 points and are coming off Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Maple Leafs. Matt Duchene, <span>Daniel Winnik</span> and Ryan O'Reilly all scored, with Duchene now having five goals and four assists over a career-high six-game point streak. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> "We had a couple of costly turnovers tonight," Duchene said. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> <span>Erik Johnson</span> had three assists and <span>Brian Elliott</span> finished with 23 saves for Colorado, which had won back-to-back shootouts following a 1-18-2 stretch. <span>Peter Budaj</span> made a brief appearance to start the third due to a skate problem for Elliott and gave up a goal. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Colorado forward <span>Mark Olver</span> (head) and defenseman <span>Ryan Wilson</span> (knee) both left the game with injury and did not return. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> The Avalanche play two straight and three of their next four on the road, but have won just two of their past 14 away from Denver. </font></p>
<p><font size="2"> Head coach Joe Sacco may stick with Budaj today as Elliott is 0-3-0 with a 3.71 GAA in his career against the Kings. Budaj is a much better 6-1-1 with a 2.73 GAA. </font></p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2011/3/26/2332241/avalanche-vs-kings-can-colorado-win-one-game-against-la-this-seasonRuss Oates