Avalanche beat Kings 2-1 in shootout to extend road streak
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joonas Donskoi scored in the shootout and the Colorado Avalanche earned their sixth straight road win with 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
Ryan Graves scored for the Avalanche, who have won 11 of their past 15 games. Pavel Francouz saved two shots in the shootout after making 20 saves through overtime for his third straight win.
“Just with all the guys we have out of the lineup, we have to check hard. I just don’t see us putting up a lot of goals with a bunch of the key guys missing,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Stick with it, be a resilient team, and that’s something we’re going to need here down the stretch.”
Austin Wagner scored on a penalty shot and Jonathan Quick made 30 saves for the Kings, who had won three of four.
Francouz started both games of a back-to-back against the Southern California teams and did not allow an even-strength goal. He stopped all 26 shots in a 1-0 win at Anaheim on Friday and is 3-0-1 since Phillipp Grubauer sustained a lower-body injury against the Kings in the outdoor game at the Air Force Academy on Feb. 15.
“It’s the result of the team game,” Francouz said. “We’re really playing well now and I’m just trying to help the guys, but we just didn’t allow much chances these last couple games.”
The Kings took a 1-0 lead at 4:47 of the first period when Wagner scored on a penalty shot. Wagner, who was held by Nikita Zadorov on a breakaway to draw the penalty, beat Francouz to his right glove side for his fifth goal.
It was the Kings’ first successful penalty shot this season in four attempts.
Colorado tied it at 1 when Graves scored on a wrist shot through traffic at 16:35 of the second period.
Los Angeles had to kill five penalties, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on coach Todd McLellan for abusive language towards an official in the third period, but Quick stopped all six shots with the man advantage.
“It started with the goaltender. Quickie was outstanding in that situation,” McLellan said. “Probably on the ice a little too much. Obviously I played a role in that so I have to take some responsibility there.”
NOTES: Avalanche F Andre Burakovsky did not play because of illness. … Kings C Jeff Carter missed his second straight game because of a lower-body injury. Carter will not play against Edmonton on Sunday but could return against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, coach Todd McLellan said.
UP NEXT
Avalanche: Host Buffalo on Wednesday night.
Kings: Host Edmonton on Sunday night.
