Injured Sakic Sits for Game 4

Colorado center Joe Sakic, who suffered an injured right shoulder in Game 3, skated in the warmups Wednesday but didn’t play.

As is customary in the playoffs, the Avalanche was vague about the injury, saying only that X-rays were negative and his shoulder was sore.

King winger Kelly Buchberger, who took a shot on the left foot from Rob Blake in Game 2 and missed Game 3, skated in the warmups but couldn’t play.

“This is why you play so hard for all 82 games of the season,” he said before the game. “We’re down, 2-1, and we’re playing against a very good team. You do what it takes.”

Colorado winger Dave Reid, who underwent surgery to repair a broken jaw Saturday night, replaced Sakic in Colorado’s lineup.

*

Home-ice advantage, once a huge factor, continues to decrease in importance in the playoffs.

Including Wednesday’s King-Colorado game, home teams are 27-31, a .466 winning percentage.

“It’s the generic arenas,” King Coach Andy Murray said. “They’re not only the same, but teams no longer practice in their buildings.”

*

Defenseman Mathieu Schneider was the Kings’ playoff scoring leader after nine games, with nine points--all assists. That tied a club record for most assists by a defenseman in one playoff year, set by Steve Duchesne in 1990 and equaled by Alex Zhitnik in 1993.

“It means his contract demands are improving,” Murray said of Schneider, who will be an unrestricted free agent July 1. “He’s played hard for us. A lot of people felt his best years were behind him but he’s having a good playoff.”