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Kings hold off late Colorado rally

Feb 27, 2011 - 12:45 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Jarret Stoll's third-period goal turned out to be the game-winner, as the Los Angeles Kings held off a Colorado rally to beat the Avalanche, 4-3, at Staples Center.

The Kings scored the game's first four goals, with Stoll's capping the run 5:47 into the final period. The Avalanche nearly pulled off the big comeback, getting within one when Stoll accidentally kicked Paul Stastny's backhander into the Los Angeles net with 29.3 seconds remaining.

However, goaltender Jonathan Quick and the Kings didn't allow the equalizer and held on for their third consecutive win. Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar both had a goal and an assist, while Quick made 14 saves.

"We dominated pretty much the whole thing, but obviously not happy with our lapse at the end there," Doughty said. "Good teams shut things down, and we didn't do that today, but we can in the future."

David Jones scored twice for Colorado, which has dropped two in a row and 12 of 13 overall. Brian Elliott turned aside 38 shots in the setback.

"We did a good job coming back," Elliott said. "We've got to focus on that and know that we can score and have confidence that we can do it. We need to be a unit of five out there and I think we'll have success."

Jones netted his first during a 5-on-3 power play at the 12:42 mark of the third period. He scored again 39 seconds later to suddenly bring his team within two.

The score stayed that way into the final minute, when Stastny backhanded the puck toward the slot and it bounced off Stoll's skate. Stoll was drifting toward the net, and his movement carried the puck the same way.

But the Kings held on to secure a victory that seemed all but assured prior to the final eight minutes.

Kopitar put the Kings on the board 7:13 into the first period, following some perseverance in the Colorado end. Wayne Simmonds chipped the puck toward the back boards, where Brad Richardson took control, and he quickly tried to jam it in by the right post. Elliott denied that shot but couldn't control the rebound, which Kopitar wristed in from the slot.

Alec Martinez scored on a left point blast just before the middle of the second period, and Doughty's power-play goal with two seconds left in the period made it a 3-0 game. Ryan Smyth recorded his 400th career assist on the tally.

Los Angeles used a 4-on-3 man advantage to net its final goal. Stoll beat Elliott to the upper right corner of the net with a hard, rising slap shot.

Game Notes

Colorado incurred 12 penalties...The Kings went 2-for-9 on their power play chances, which included a total of 2:26 on two 5-on-3 advantages...Avalanche defensemen John-Michael Liles and Erik Johnson both had two assists.