For Kings’ Fiset, a Fitting Reward

For 56 minutes and 41 seconds, the Kings relied on goaltender Stephane Fiset to keep them close against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

Then they finally gave Fiset some offensive support, scoring twice in a 6:02 span to defeat the Avalanche, 2-1, in overtime before 16,061 at McNichols Arena. Luc Robitaille got the winning goal after Vladimir Tsyplakov tied the score in regulation.

It looked as though the effort by Fiset, who made 37 saves against his former team, would go to waste until he was rewarded by a strong rally by the Kings, who moved within three points of the first-place Avalanche in the Pacific Division.

“We’re working hard, we battle, and we believe in ourselves,” said Robitaille, who scored his 11th goal 2:43 into overtime to help the Kings move three games over .500 for the first time this season at 11-8-4.

“We have a team that never gives up, and that means you win a lot of games. That’s what we’re doing . . . we’re in every game and we’re giving everything in every game.”

As Philadelphia, Detroit and New Jersey already have discovered, Colorado found out it can no longer count on an easy victory against the Kings, who improved to 4-1-1 in their last six road games and 8-3-1 in their last 12 overall.

The Kings scrambled against the Avalanche, who had taken a 1-0 lead on Claude Lemieux’s goal in the second period.

Colorado, limited to four shots on goal in the first period, picked up the pace with 13 in the second and 20 in the third. But every time the Avalanche appeared ready to put the game away, Fiset was there to make the stop with his teammates helping out by knocking rebounds from the crease.

Tsyplakov’s goal tied the score with 3:19 left in regulation when he patiently skated through the slot and fired a shot past Colorado goalie Craig Billington, making his third consecutive start in place of Patrick Roy, who has a left shoulder injury.

Tsyplakov’s linemates, Glen Murray and Yanic Perreault, were credited with assists, but Garry Galley also played a key role by tying up Sandis Ozolinsh in the slot. Over the last 10 games, the line of Tsyplakov-Perreault-Murray has 41 points.

With the score tied, 1-1, the Kings were the more aggressive team in overtime and their effort paid off when Jozef Stumpel passed to Galley, who found Robitaille for the winner from the left side of the slot.

“Steph did it all,” said King Coach Larry Robinson, whose team won for the first time in 21 overtime games. “He made three incredible stops in the third period and then, [Tsyplakov] made a great play on his tying goal and then Luc and Garry Galley made great plays on the winning score. This is the type of game that is a character-builder for our club.”