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DENVER (AP) – A pep talk from their coach got Zigmund Palffy and
Jozef Stumpel focused and energized, helping the Los Angeles Kings
take a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series with
the Colorado Avalanche.
|  | | Nelson Emerson gets the shot past Patrick Roy to tie the score at 2 for the Kings in the second period Thursday. |
Jaroslav Modry, on a feed from Stumpel, scored at 14:23 of
overtime, lifting the Kings to a 4-3 victory Thursday night in the
series opener.
The Kings, extending their playoff winning streak to a
franchise-record five games, won on Modry's power-play goal after
Adam Foote went off on a holding penalty.
Stumpel passed from the left circle to Modry, who beat Patrick
Roy from the top of the right circle to end Colorado's four-game
winning streak.
"You don't usually win games when you play as poorly as we did
the first 40 minutes," Los Angeles coach Andy Murray said. "I
challenged that line. I said to Ziggy, you guys have got to raise
your game. They responded. They played well in overtime."
Switching sides of the ice, Modry wound up in the right place at
the right time for the game-winner.
"I was in there on the left point and things got mixed
around," Modry said. "I just switched sides. Stumpel made a nice
pass. I set the puck down and just took a whack at it and tried to
hit the net."
Los Angeles' Felix Potvin had 34 saves, and Roy had 21.
"This is a huge win, a huge boost for our team," Potvin said.
"We didn't play well, but we picked it up in the third period and
overtime. We were better after (Colorado defenseman Rob) Blake's
goal (early in the second period). It woke us up.
"Modry has been chipping in all year. Tonight he got the big
one for us. He scores goals at the right time."
Glen Murray had two goals for the seventh-seeded Kings. Peter
Forsberg had a goal and two assists for top-seeded Colorado.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday in Denver.
"They got two power plays in overtime and took advantage of
one," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said.
"I don't think we were rusty," said Avalanche captain Joe
Sakic, whose team hadn't played in eight days. "Our guys played
hard and we had our chances. The Kings can score goals, and if you
give them a couple of breaks, they'll take advantage."
Avs defenseman Adam Foote said his team is a "proud hockey
club, and we just have to get it turned around. We weren't going to
go through the whole playoffs without a loss."
Murray and Colorado's Chris Drury had first-period goals as the
teams skated to a 1-1 tie.
Murray's long shot from beyond the right circle ricocheted off
Roy's left shoulder at 9:20.
At 15:59, Drury eluded two defenders along the left boards,
found an open lane and skated across the front of the goal, where
he beat Potvin from the slot.
Colorado outshot Los Angeles 14-2 in the second period, but the
Kings held on for a 2-2 tie.
Blake, the former Kings defenseman, got his second goal of the
playoffs, scoring from the right circle at 2:40 on a 4-on-4
situation after Forsberg kept the puck alive at the blue line.
The Avalanche, peppering Potvin, appeared to be in control, but
Nelson Emerson tied it at 9:29. Adam Deadmarsh knocked the airborne
puck down at the blue line and fed Emerson, who scored on a
backhander between Roy's legs.
Potvin had three straight solid saves late in the period, two
off Sakic.
Murray scored his second goal, on a wrist shot from the slot
after a feed from Bryan Smolinski, to give the Kings a 3-2 lead at
13:00 of the third period.
But 20 seconds after Palffy went off for high-sticking, Forsberg
scored, tucking a rebound past Potvin at 15:30 to force overtime.
Los Angeles center Eric Belanger went down with back spasms
midway through the third period. He did not return and is questionable for Game 2.
Game notes
Colorado acquired Blake and Steven Reinprecht from the
Kings on Feb. 21 for Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, a first-round draft
choice and other considerations. ... It was the first playoff
meeting between the two franchises. ... Each team had won its
previous four playoff games. ... The Kings and Avs split the
regular-season series 2-2, with each team winning twice at home.
... The Kings' six-game upset of Detroit in the opening round was
their first playoff series victory since 1993, when they reached
the Stanley Cup inals.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Colorado Clubhouse
Kings-Avalanche Series Page
RECAPS
Toronto 2
New Jersey 0
Pittsburgh 3
Buffalo 0
Los Angeles 4
Colorado 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jaroslav Modry comes up with the overtime goal and gives the Kings a 1-0 series lead.
avi: 1449 k
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'Cable Modem
Chris Drury weaves through the Kings defense and finds a line to the goal to tie the game at 1.
avi: 1537 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Glen Murray skates across the line and goes top shelf on Patrick Roy.
avi: 1069 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Rob Blake takes it to his old team and puts the Avs on top 2-1.
avi: 904 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
Adam Deadmarsh steals the puck out of the air and gives it to Nelson Emerson, who ties the game at 2.
avi: 1030 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN'
'Cable Modem
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