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Kings-Avalanche Preview

Apr 11, 2010 - 12:35 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (45-27-8) at Colorado (43-30-8), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Kings are still trying to figure out where they finish in the Western Conference while the Colorado Avalanche know they will be the No. 8 seed.

The playoff-bound teams meet for the final time in the regular season Sunday at the Pepsi Center with Los Angeles trying to reach 100 points for the first time since 1991-92.

The Kings (45-27-9) fell 4-3 to Edmonton in a shootout at home Saturday, leaving them with 99 points as they vie with Nashville and Detroit for spots five through seven in the West. Los Angeles is headed to the postseason for the first time since 2002.

Los Angeles rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the third period Saturday to gain a point, but failed to fully capitalize on a 55-16 edge in shots on goal. The Kings have been in a franchise-record four straight shootouts, losing three.

Jonathan Quick is 0-3-3 with a 3.20 GAA while being yanked twice in eight starts since last winning on March 22.

"It doesn't bother me," he said. "There's no reason it should. As a team, and me personally, we've won plenty of games to be confident that we're going to win more, so it doesn't affect me at all."

Colorado (43-30-8), meanwhile, is locked into the final playoff spot in the West. The Avalanche have been one of the biggest stories in the NHL this season after finishing with a conference-low 69 points in 2008-09.

The Avalanche also are looking ahead to the postseason, starting backup goalie Peter Budaj over Craig Anderson in losses over the last two games after clinching a berth with Tuesday's 4-3 shootout victory at Vancouver.

Budaj will likely get the call again Sunday. He's 5-5-2 with a 2.64 goals-against average this year, and 6-0-1 with a 2.70 GAA in nine career starts against the Kings.

Colorado's cautious approach will also determine whether rookie Matt Duchene will see action. Duchene is listed as doubtful with a torso injury suffered in a center-ice collision against Edmonton in Wednesday's 5-4 overtime loss.

Duchene played in the first period of Friday's 5-2 loss to Chicago, but left when the injury flared up again. A likely Calder Trophy finalist, Duchene was taken to the hospital as a precaution and discharged Saturday morning.

The 19-year-old was the third pick in the 2009 draft and leads all NHL rookies in goals (24) and points (55).

"He's got some time to rest up and get better," coach Joe Sacco told the Avalanche's official Web site. "If we're playing Wednesday or Thursday, hopefully he'll be ready to go by then."

Colorado has a shootout win, an overtime loss and a regulation loss in its first three meetings with Los Angeles this season. The Avalanche can't wait, though, for the postseason.

"More than anything, I'm excited to be playing in the playoffs again," forward Darcy Tucker said. "Our goal all year long as a team was to get into the playoffs and make sure we're playing well going into the playoffs."