Avalanche go quietly into the good night with embarrassing loss to Kings

GAME RUNDOWN

Given the Colorado Avalanche’s standing deep in last place in the NHL, it was the least surprising thing on the planet when the Los Angeles Kings scored just 47 seconds into the contest tonight. Even more predictable, a slumping player, this time Marian Gaborik, was the one who scored, furthering Colorado’s burgeoning reputation as the NHL’s premier slump buster. At least the Avalanche are first in something, right?

The 1-0 lead quickly turned into two after a silly Colorado penalty put the Kings on the power play as if they needed the man-advantage. Jeff Carter, who has enjoyed quite a bit of success in his Kings tenure against the Avalanche, buried a puck behind rookie Spencer Martin, the goaltender tasked with trying to may lemonade with rocks on this given night. The 2-0 lead became a 3-0 lead when Carter tapped home his second of the first period and Colorado, who struggles to score even two goals per game, was suddenly facing a three-goal deficit after just one period.

Things looked to improve briefly when Jarome Iginla scored a power-play goal but it was ultimately waved off after it was determined Blake Comeau interfered with Kings netminder Peter Budaj. The Avalanche failed to score on the remainder of the power play and it seemed like a minor victory of sorts when the second period came to an end with no goals against.

That run of luck did not continue into the third period as the Kings got back to work and found the back of the net when Kevin Gravel’s shot from the point was deflected by Dustin Brown past a helpless Martin just as their power play was expiring and the score ran to 4-0.

To add some salt to the wound, Dwight King notched his sixth goal of the season halfway through the third period to bring the game to its final score, 5-0. It was Budaj’s sixth shutout of the season and most certainly a satisfying one against the team that drafted him.

THREE STARS

1. Jeff Carter
2. Peter Budaj
3. Dustin Brown

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado’s putrid season continues with the Winnipeg Jets coming to town this Saturday in an afternoon tilt. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. local time.