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Late rally helps Avalanche edge Kings

Jan 23, 2013 - 6:31 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - David Jones' power-play goal at 2:35 of the third period proved to be the game-winner, as the Colorado Avalanche came from behind to beat the Los Angeles Kings, 3-1, in their home opener at Pepsi Center.

Jones scored 1:35 after new Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog had tied the game. Free-agent acquisition PA Parenteau added another goal later on for Colorado, which killed all six Los Angeles power plays and got 28 saves from Semyon Varlamov.

"We created some momentum (in the third) and we had some good penalty kills all night long," Landeskog said.

The Avalanche's penalty killing was ineffective in their season opener. They allowed two power-play goals in Saturday's 4-2 loss at Minnesota.

Kyle Clifford supplied the lone goal for the Kings, who have dropped five in a row to the Avalanche. Jonathan Quick stopped all 19 shots he faced through the first 40 minutes before surrendering three goals on 12 third-period shots.

Anze Kopitar returned to the Los Angeles lineup after missing Saturday's season-opening 5-2 loss to Chicago with a sprained right knee he sustained while playing in Sweden during the lockout.

"We made some mistakes and turnovers that cost us," Kopitar said.

Taking a lead into the third period usually meant points for the Kings. They had gone 86-0-9 the previous 95 times when leading after two frames. On Tuesday, Los Angeles suffered its first such regulation loss since April 2, 2009.

Landeskog erased a 1-0 deficit one minute into the third period. Last year's Calder Trophy winner as the league's top rookie, Landeskog was the recipient of a friendly carom after Jan Hejda's point shot sailed wide of the net. The puck bounced off the end boards right to Landeskog, who buried it behind Quick.

Twenty-seven seconds later, Dustin Penner went to the penalty box for holding and Jones beat Quick with a wrister on the ensuing man-advantage.

Parenteau made it 3-1 after defenseman Erik Johnson, who played in his 300th career game, fed him from behind the net for a tap-in at 8:16.

"I'm just glad I was in the right spot," Parenteau said.

Clifford went to the net and banged home the rebound of a Jordan Nolan shot with 4:08 remaining in the first period.

Game Notes

Colorado forward Steve Downie left the game with a knee injury ... Prior to their recent slide in this series, the Kings were 8-0-1 against the Avalanche.