Kings 2 - 3 Avalanche
Final
  for this game

Avs hope to earn first home win against Kings

Oct 30, 2011 - 2:23 PM (Sports Network) - Most teams would be looking forward to a nice long span of home games, but if the Avalanche can't find a way to win in Colorado, this current stretch could wash out a solid start to the season.

The Avs take a fourth shot at their first victory at the Pepsi Center tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.

Colorado has won six of its seven games on the road, including a perfect five- game swing from Oct. 10-17. The Avalanche have lost three of four since then, however, and dropped to 0-3 on home ice with a 3-1 defeat to the Oilers on Friday.

Ryan O'Reilly scored his first goal of the season and team-leading eighth point in the third period and Semyon Varlamov made 16 saves. The Avalanche lost despite a season-high 41 shots on net.

"It is the little details. We had a couple of breakdowns and didn't take advantage of chances and it hurt us," said O'Reilly.

The Avs have been outscored 9-2 at home this year and Friday's game kicked off a string in which they will play 14 of their next 18 at home. That includes an eight-game homestand from Nov. 18-Dec. 4, the longest for the club in Avs history.

"It's tough to answer," rookie Gabriel Landeskog said of struggling at home. "It's the small details, like we're not getting the first goal. We're not getting that drive to the net and we're sometimes too careful with our chances."

The Kings also failed to capitalize on their opportunities on Saturday, falling 3-2 in overtime at Phoenix. Jonathan Quick made 30 saves, but did not have a chance on Daymond Langkow's game-winner with 44 seconds remaining in the extra frame.

Mike Richards and Anze Kopitar each had a goal for the Kings, who have lost two of their last three since a four-game win streak.

"We had our moments in the game were [the forecheck] really good, but at the end we problems getting out of our end," Kings head coach Terry Murray said.

The Kings were without forward Simon Gagne due to an unknown injury and he may sit out tonight as well. However, Drew Doughty returned from an upper-body ailment that had kept him out of five straight games.

"Drew, his intentions are always great. He wants to make a difference out there. I thought there was a little bit of rust in his game," said Murray. "There were some plays where you'd like to see him move the puck a little faster, some turnovers that happen. But that's a matter of time off. Conditioning-wise, he was very good."

The Kings took all four of their meetings with the Avalanche last year, giving them a victory in five straight and eight of the last nine encounters. They've won three in a row and six of nine at Colorado.






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