Colorado Avalanche @ Los Angeles Kings (Game Recap 12/17/07)

The Avalanche came into the Staples Center without Captain and Leader Joe Sakic, but were still able to hold off a late rally by the Kings to win 4-2.

The Kings came out slow and lifeless, which led to a Dustin Brown, Holding penalty 2 minutes into the 1st period.  It only took Ryan Smyth 25 seconds to make Dustin Brown and the Kings pay for the penalty, by putting the Avalanche up 1-0.  Only a minute later, Jan Hlincka got a break away and backhanded the puck over Jason LaBarbera's right pad into the net to give the Avs a 2 goal lead less than four minutes into the game.  14:12 into the 1st period the Avs young sensation Peter Stastny made it 3-0 with a goal assisted by Hejduk and Liles.  It was all Av's in the 1st period out shooting the Kings 16-4.

Jason Labarbera was excellent in the 2nd and 3rd period saving 24 shots in 40 minutes.  All together he made 37 saves in his first game back from injury.  If he can keep this up, he may give the Kings chances to win and he certainly did in this one.

 At the beginning of the 3rd period the Kings came out looking like a completely different team.  They were pressuring, hitting, moving the puck.  They had the Av's on their heels which turned into some Powerplays.  Dustin Brown made up for the goal on his penalty by getting a power play goal of his own at the beginning of the 3rd to make it 3-1.  Just 4 minutes later Handzus scored a Short-handed goal while Cammalerri was in the penalty box for the Kings.  The Kings had made it a one goal game with over 15 minutes left in the 3rd period.  The Kings would get some chances but would not be able to notch another tally to tie it, instead The Av's would get an empty net goal to secure the victory 4-2. 

All in all it was a dominant performance by the Colorado Avalanche.  They dominated pretty much 50 of 60 minutes.  If the Kings could consistently play the way they did in the first 5 minutes of the 3rd period, they would be a playoff contender.  Instead of being a playoff contender they sit at dead last in the Pacific Division and Western Conference!