Colorado Avalanche Earn One Point in Shootout Loss
By Andrew Dill
Dec 21, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) reacts after he scored the winning goal past Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) in the shootout at Staples Center. The Kings won 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche would come back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game going into overtime thanks to Johnson and O’Reilly, but came up short as Kopitar buried the potential winner in the shootout, giving the Kings the 3-2 win.
Colorado was skating well in the first period as Tyson Barrie sent a pass in front of the net for Ryan O’Reilly but was stuffed by the undefeated Martin Jones. O’Reilly would have another solid scoring chance as Matt Duchene bodied up his defender by protecting the puck as it bounced to a wide-open O’Reilly but was saved. Kings would get caught with the first penalty of the game as Alec Martinez was sent to the box for holding P.A. Parenteau. The Kings defense played as if it were even strength, pressuring the puck. Colorado’s penalty would be killed off as they have struggled on the power-play.
The Los Angeles Kings would get on the board first as Jeff Carter scored his 11th goal of the season, with just 31.3 seconds remaining in the first period to put the Kings up 1-0. Just 5:25 into the second period, Justin Williams would score his 12th goal of the season off of a rebound, putting Los Angeles up 2-0 early. It seemed like one of those games for the Avalanche to lay down and let the Kings take over. Colorado would bounce back as Los Angeles Jarret Stoll would be called for tripping Jamie McGinn. That would set-up a power-play goal for Erik Johnson, as the defenseman scored his 5th goal of the season off of a nice pass from Matt Duchene.
Tyson Barrie would be called for hooking late in the second period giving the Kings a chance to take a two goal lead, but Colorado’s penalty-kill unit would hold their ground, killing it off. Colorado would score yet another power-play goal 10:27 into the third period as Ryan O’Reilly would cash in his 12th goal of the season, as Matt Duchene would pick up another assist. The two teams would finish the period tied at two heading into overtime, but wouldn’t score. A shootout was looming at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Jeff Carter would be the first man up for the Kings as wrist shot was stopped by goaltender Semyon Varlamov. Matt Duchene started it off for Colorado and was robbed by Martin Jones. That was huge for Los Angeles due to the fact that both P.A. Parenteau and Ryan O’Reilly would get stuffed. Anze Kopitar would score the game-winning goal in the shootout as he shot it past Varlamov, giving the Kings the 3-2 win and two points. Martin Jones became the second goalie in NHL history to win his first eight games.
Three Stars:
3: Anze Kopitar (LAK): Game-winning SO goal, assist.
2: Matt Duchene (COL): Two assists.
1: Martin Jones (LAK): 23/25 saves, .920 SV%. 8th win.
The Colorado Avalanche (23-10-2) will be in San Jose Monday to take on the Sharks. Puck-Drop is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET, 8:30 PM MT.