Rob Blake came home on Monday night. And Felix Potvin, being a proper host, had a gift for him. A lovely, pillow-soft goal, which proved to be the difference in a thrilling 4-3 Avalanche win over the Kings in Game 3.

When Blake hit the ice for the pregame warmup, he couldn't have imagined any gifts would be waiting for him at the Staples Center. The fans that had cheered his every move since he arrived in Hollywood in 1990 -- fresh out of Bowling Green State University -- were now lustfully booing him. Afterward, all Blake could say about the booing was, "they turn on you quick, don't they?" Of course, the enemy defenseman shouldn't have been too surprised at the reception. After all, the fans just figure if Blake liked their city so much, he would have accepted the Kings' high dollar offer (said to be around $7 million per season) and stayed in his beautiful home on Manhattan Beach.

But enough about money. Let's talk about Potvin's gift.

The rowdy crowd was roaring after the Kings killed an early Avs power play. Potvin looked sharp, stopping three good chances. It wasn't even five minutes into the game. Then, Blake casually approached the Kings' blue line. He hadn't reached it yet when he wound up and launched a low bullet toward Potvin. It was a hard shot, but one that NHL goaltenders routinely spit back at the shooter.

For a second, it appeared Potvin had embraced the puck with his butterfly style. Suddenly, to the horror of the packed Hollywood house, the black disc reappeared -- on end -- behind Potvin. Slowly, painfully for Kings fans, it rolled across the goal line into the net.

Avs: 1. Kings: deflated. Crowd: quiet.

Gift goals, like the one Potvin offered Blake, just kill you in the playoffs -- especially when you're the underdog in a series.

Yes, Potvin's play has been a major reason why the Kings even made the postseason after dealing Blake. And, because of that, it's hard to focus blame on Felix The Cat. But on Monday night, Potvin's error put his team in a hole. Try as they did, it was a hole they could never quite escape from.

Goalies earn their pay by bouncing back from tough nights. Patrick Roy did it after a miserable Game 1. Now it's Potvin's turn. On Wednesday, in Game 4, there can be no gifts ... even to an old pal like Rob Blake.

E.J. Hradek covers hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.