Kings 2, Avalanche 1
LOS ANGELES -- Center Tyler Toffoli scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Colorado Avalanche for the sixth consecutive time, recording a 2-1 victory Sunday night at Staples Center.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 22 of 23 shots as the Kings (2-3-0) capped a five-game homestand with their second win in a row. Right winger Marian Gaborik also scored for Los Angeles.
Goalie Reto Berra, who blanked the Anaheim Ducks on Friday in a 3-0 decision, saved 38 of 40 attempts for the Avalanche (2-3-0).
The Avalanche had chances in the final period, including a five-on-three opportunity for 49 seconds, when Kings center Nick Shore was penalized for hooking at 10:05 and defenseman Drew Doughty followed with a cross-checking violation at 11:17, but they failed to capitalize.
Gaborik put the Kings up 1-0, converting a pass from right winger Dustin Brown with a wrist shot from the slot past Berra at 13:38 of the first period. It was Gaborik's first goal this season.
The contest turned chippy with 2:44 gone in the second period. Avalanche right winger Jack Skille and Kings center Jordan Nolan squared off behind the Kings' net before both were sent to the box. As those two were escorted off, Colorado left winger Cody McLeod and center Andy Andreoff dropped the gloves. Both were handed game misconduct penalties after their skirmish.
Kings winger Milan Lucic was docked for a tripping penalty late in the second period, and the Avalanche took advantage. Center Carl Soderberg connected on a nifty pass in front of the Los Angeles net with center Matt Duchene, who smoked a shot past Quick for his first goal of the season to knot the score at 1 with 4:03 left in the second.
However, Toffoli picked off a Colorado exchange near the red line and scored on a breakaway 23 seconds later for a 2-1 Los Angeles advantage. For Toffoli, it was his club-leading third goal this season.
NOTES: Colorado D Tyson Barrie began a three-game suspension Sunday. Barrie was punished by the NHL for his hit on Anaheim Ducks D Simon Despres on Friday in the Avalanche's 3-0 win. ... Los Angeles RW Marian Gaborik scored 21 goals and recorded 16 assists, tops for the Kings, in 45 previous games against Colorado. ... The Avalanche scratched D Brandon Gormley and C Borna Rendulic, while D Matt Greene and C Jordan Weal were unavailable for the Kings. ... The Kings swept the three-game series between the two clubs and outscored the Avalanche 12-4 last season. ... The Avalanche open a two-game homestand Wednesday with a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Kings visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday before returning to Staples Center on Friday to play the Hurricanes.