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Avalanche look to build of huge win

Dec 9, 2006 - 5:59 PM Colorado (13-13-2) at Los Angeles (10-16-4) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Colorado Avalanche got their brief two-game west-coast trip off to a great start, and hope to end it on an upswing when they tangle with the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Joe Sakic and Brett Clark each had a goal and an assist as Colorado broke a two-game losing streak with an impressive 5-2 triumph over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Brett McLean scored the other goal for Colorado while Jose Theodore recorded 28 saves. With the score tied, 2-2, Clark and McLean scored goals just over five minutes apart late in the second period for a 4-2 lead before Sakic's second gave the Avalanche further insurance and a 5-2 advantage. The Kings, losers in three of their last four, try to rebound from a 4-1 home loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Nashville's Scott Hartnell made his 400th career NHL game a memorable one by scoring, and Alexander Radulov, Jerred Smithson and Kimmo Timonen also scored for the Predators.

Chris Mason registered 20 saves for Nashville, which was sharp on the power play in converting three times in eight opportunities with the extra skater.