Colorado’s Roy Silences Kings

Patrick Roy has some superstitions. Talking about himself is one of them.

After leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-0 victory over the Kings on Thursday night at Denver, Roy said, “Right now, the team is playing well in front of me, and I really like the way I’m seeing the puck. That’s a great combination.

“I feel really good. I just don’t want to say things that jeopardize myself.”

Roy made 26 saves to record his fifth shutout of the season and 66th overall. He also posted his 547th victory, tops in NHL history and 100 more than second-place goalie Terry Sawchuk.

Dan Hinote, Rob Blake and Alex Tanguay scored goals for the Avalanche, which remained in the No. 5 position for the Western Conference playoffs. Colorado has 97 points, tied with St. Louis, but the Blues have the tiebreaker advantage of more wins. St. Louis beat Florida, 2-1, Thursday night.

King goalie Cristobal Huet, making his fifth NHL start, gave up all three goals before being replaced by Jamie Storr early in the second period. Storr had 13 saves.

King Coach Andy Murray said Huet “has played very well for us, but tonight he didn’t get off to a very good start. The Avalanche are a great team, and he wasn’t on top of his game.”

Hinote scored on Colorado’s first shot at 6:34, then Blake scored at 9:00 to make it 2-0.

Los Angeles peppered Roy with 13 shots in the second period but couldn’t score, and Tanguay put the Avalanche ahead 3-0.