Avalanche 2 - 1 Kings
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Streaking Avs beat Kings in SO

Jan 3, 2012 - 6:52 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Milan Hejduk scored the only goal of the shootout to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Hejduk snuck a shot between the pads of Jonathan Quick on Colorado's opening chance after Jarret Stoll missed the net. Semyon Varlamov then stopped Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown for the win.

Ryan O'Reilly scored in the third period for the Avalanche, who have won three straight and eight of nine. Varlamov made 31 stops in the win.

"We played much better in the third period, defensively and offensively," said Varlamov. "I was able to see every shot and that helps a lot."

Brown scored in regulation and Quick turned aside 20 shots for the Kings, who have lost two of three.

"We have to shoot the puck more and get more scoring chances, it's as simple as that," said Los Angeles head coach Darryl Sutter. "You're not going to get very far in this league scoring one goal a game."

The first 20 minutes passed scoreless, but the Kings took a 1-0 lead 1:34 into the second as Kopitar fired a shot on net that was stopped but Brown was there to backhand in the rebound.

In the latter stages of the third, the Avalanche were able to tie the game as O'Reilly faked a shot from the right to get a clearer lane then banged his wrister in off the left post with 5:43 to play in regulation.

Game Notes

Los Angeles hosts Phoenix on Thursday...Colorado plays in Chicago on Friday...Los Angeles came into the game with an NHL worst 2.13 goals per game average and over its past 21 games has scored three goals or more in regulation and overtime just three times...The Avs have won both contests with LA this season after getting swept last season.






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