Avery makes the plays as Kings win on road

Sean Avery came up with both the backbreaker and the heartbreaker.

Avery scored a short-handed goal in the second period that keyed a four-goal rally and added the game-winner in the third period as the Kings held off the Colorado Avalanche, 6-5, Tuesday night.

“We just are all trying to get goals and win games,” Avery said. “We have been playing hard and the bounces haven’t been going our way.”

Avery’s first goal broke a 2-2 tie in the second period, and his second made it 6-4.

“Getting the breakaway short-handed seemed to lift our spirits a little bit,” Kings Coach Marc Crawford said. “We got some big saves from our goalie [Dan Cloutier], so the second was our best period by far. We shot the puck very well, and whether that was a reflection of great shots or subpar goaltending, it was a game tonight where the shooters were good and the chances were plentiful.

“Thankfully, we capitalized on a few more than they did.”

Colorado center Tyler Arnason set up a frenetic finish when he scored with 2:01 left, and the Avalanche had a power play for the final 1:17 after Mattias Norstrom was called for high-sticking. But Colorado couldn’t tie it.

Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore was replaced with his team trailing, 5-2, to start the third.