Kings’ Momentum Snowballs

On paper, Tuesday night’s game between the Kings and the Colorado Avalanche should have been a mismatch.

The Avalanche, which has the best record in the league, came in looking to extend its season-high winning streak to seven games. With leading scorer Joe Sakic back in the lineup, the defending Stanley Cup champions have the best road record in the league and were heavy favorites to win their fourth consecutive game against the Kings.

But someone forgot to tell the Kings, who believe they are still in the playoff hunt. Behind the play of former Avalanche goalie Stephane Fiset, the Kings won, 3-1, before 10,832 at the Forum.

Fiset made 32 saves to extend his winning streak to three, and now has given up six goals in his last six starts. The Kings also stretched their winning streak to three--their third such streak this season--on the strength of goals by Vladimir Tsyplakov, Roman Vopat and Eddie Olczyk.

A key to the victory was the Kings’ penalty-killing unit, which stifled six Colorado power plays. The Avalanche entered with the best power play on the road in the league.

The last time Fiset started against his former teammates, on Feb. 11 at Colorado, he faced a season-high 29 shots in the first period of a 3-1 loss. Fiset, who went on to establish a career high with 48 saves against the Avalanche that night, was not as busy in the first period Tuesday.

Fiset had to make only 10 saves in the period, but he had plenty of help from his teammates in keeping the Avalanche scoreless, to wit: Defenseman Sean O’Donnell knocking away a loose puck from the crease to save a goal five minutes into the game.

“Right now, I’m solid in the net. . . . I don’t move for nothing,” said Fiset, who improved to 11-22-5. “The big difference is that the team is playing well in front of me. All I have to do is make the save and they clear the puck.”

The Kings took a 1-0 lead when Tsyplakov, who had three assists in a 4-0 victory over Vancouver last Saturday, scored at 7:15. Tsyplakov picked up a loose puck by the Colorado blue line and beat Avalanche goalie Craig Billington from the right circle for his 14th goal.

Colorado tied the score seven minutes into the second period when forward Stephane Yelle skated down the right side of the ice and tried to center a pass, but it deflected off Fiset’s skate into the net. It was the first goal Fiset had given up in 113 minutes and 26 seconds--a team best.

Eleven seconds later, after Olczyk won the ensuing faceoff, Vopat shot from the left circle. It was partially blocked by Billington, but Vopat followed his shot and knocked it into the net.

With a one-goal lead, the Kings knew they had their work cut out against the Avalanche. Twelve of Colorado’s victories have come on goals scored with 10 minutes or fewer remaining.

The Kings finally put the game away with 38.7 seconds left when Olczyk scored into an empty net, his 19th goal of the season.

Ian Laperriere played only the first two periods because of a headache. Laperriere, who suffered a concussion against Vancouver on Saturday, was held overnight at Centinela Hospital for tests.