Kings at Avalanche
THE STORY: Colorado Avalanche coach Joe Sacco admitted he was frustrated by his team's effort in Sunday's lackluster 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. If Sacco's charges don't put forth a better performance on Wednesday when the Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings, a chance at the postseason may soon slip away. Goals will likely be at a premium in this contest between these light-scoring clubs.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS, TSN2
ABOUT THE KINGS (27-21-12): After getting blanked in its previous two games, Los Angeles actually gave the scoreboard operator some work in its 5-4 shootout loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday. The lowest-scoring team in the NHL, the Kings netted their first three goals in a span of 8:26. Prior to that, their last three goals were scored in a span of 157:56. Dustin Brown snapped a three-game streak without a point by scoring and setting up a goal on Tuesday. The captain had a goal and two assists in three games this season versus Colorado.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (29-27-4): Colorado acquired pesky Steve Downie from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Kyle Quincey on Tuesday. The Lightning then turned around and shipped the blue-liner to the Detroit Red Wings for minor-league defenseman Sebastien Piche and a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. Downie, 24, has collected 12 goals, 16 assists and 121 penalty minutes in 55 games this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Colorado rookie RW Gabriel Landeskog has recorded four goals and two assists in the last six games. The second overall pick of the draft, Landeskog has a goal and an assist in three contests versus the Kings.
2. After Los Angeles won all four meetings last season, Colorado is attempting to do the same in 2011-12. The Avalanche posted a 3-2 home win on Oct. 30 before claiming a pair of narrow road victories in January.
3. Los Angeles is clinging to eighth place in the Western Conference, four points ahead of 11th-place Colorado.