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DENVER (AP) – It took longer than anyone expected, but the
Colorado Avalanche finally shook the Los Angeles Kings.
Chris Drury and Ville Nieminen scored two of Colorado's four
third-period goals as the Avalanche advanced to the Western
Conference finals with a 5-1 victory over Los Angeles in Game 7 on
Wednesday night.
|  | | Kings goalie Felix Potvin made 31 saves, but was peppered on his glove side and allowed four goals in the third period. |
"You can call it happiness, you can call it relief, call it
what you want," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said. "The only thing
I know is that we are moving on."
Rob Blake, traded from Los Angeles to Colorado in February, also
scored for the Avs, who are heading to the conference finals for
the third straight year. They will face the St. Louis Blues at home
in Game 1 on Saturday.
"They took us as far as possible – third period, Game 7,"
Blake said. "For that I'm happy, but I'm also happy we're moving
on. That's the best scenario."
The Kings ended a phenomenal playoff run that included rallying
from a 2-0 series deficit against the Detroit Red Wings in the
first round. They were down 3-1 against Colorado before tying the
series with consecutive 1-0 victories.
"I would hate to think they had more at stake than we did,"
Los Angeles coach Andy Murray said. "Our guys desperately wanted
to win. We just played a Colorado team that was better than we were
tonight. We weren't good enough."
The Avalanche had been eliminated in Game 7 each of the past
three seasons, and Los Angeles had them on edge again as the teams
went into the third tied 1-1.
The situation was perfect for Drury, who will forever be known
as a Little League hero from Trumbull, Conn., but is equally clutch
on the ice.
Drury gave Colorado the lead for good when he took a pass from
Peter Forsberg and beat Los Angeles goalie Felix Potvin from the
slot at 3:03. It was Drury's seventh goal of the postseason and the
eighth game-winner in his three-year playoff career.
"The coaches have to have confidence in you to have you on the
ice in those situations, late in tight games," Drury said. "And
then to be out there with such great players as Forsberg doing a
great job. It's certainly not me taking it end-to-end for these
goals. It's a combination of everyone doing their job. I happen to
be in the right place at the right time."
Nieminen followed 3:19 later with a long slap shot that went
over Potvin's left shoulder and rattled the crossbar before hitting
the net. The score came while Kings defenseman Mathieu Schneider
was in the penalty box for interference.
"It will be tough getting over this," Los Angeles forward Luc
Robitaille said. "It is tougher every year when you think you have
a chance. I thought we had a chance to go all the way."
Shjon Podein added his first goal of the playoffs with 8:53 left
as the Avalanche gave goalie Patrick Roy some well-deserved
breathing room.
Roy had stopped 77 of 79 shots over the last three games but
lost twice. He finished with 25 saves and snapped a four-game Game
7 losing streak.
"Both goalies played great, but to give Patty no goals in the
past two games, it was nice to get him five tonight," Drury said.
Potvin, who had stopped 58 straight shots entering the game,
made 31 saves.
The Kings pulled Potvin with 5:56 remaining, and Milan Hejduk
scored into an empty net 2:12 later.
Desperately seeking scoring, Colorado came out aggressive,
peppering Potvin with seven shots in the first five minutes.
Potvin held his ground until Blake drilled a slap shot from the
slot over his left shoulder for a power-play goal with 1:31 left in
the first period, ending Colorado's scoreless streak at 182
minutes, 57 seconds. The Avalanche had not scored since the second
period of Game 4.
Blake's fourth goal of the playoffs came less than a minute
after Kings center Steve Kelly was called for cross-checking.
Colorado had been 3-for-33 on the power play in the first six games
of the series.
Despite being outshot and outhustled for the better part of the
first two periods, the Kings tied the game at 1 on Nelson Emerson's
long shot from the point at 18:31 of the second.
Emerson used Colorado defenseman Adam Foote as a screen, and the
puck sailed over Roy's left shoulder and into the top of the net.
The Kings nearly scored again in the closing seconds, but Bryan
Smolinski hit the right post from point-blank range.
"We could have taken a 2-1 lead into the third period,"
Smolinski said. "Then they have to open things up. It wasn't meant
to be."
Game notes
Colorado D Ray Bourque had two assists in his eighth career
Game 7. He is 7-1 in those games. ... Los Angeles converted just 1
of 21 power plays on the road in the playoffs. ... Potvin fell to
3-3 in Game 7s. He has allowed 16 goals in his last four deciding
games. ... The team scoring first won every game of the series. ...
The Kings failed to become the 17th team to win a series after
trailing 3-1.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Colorado Clubhouse
Kings-Avalanche Series Page
Frei: Things come together for Avs in Game 7
RECAPS
New Jersey 5
Toronto 1
Colorado 5
Los Angeles 1
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Ray Bourque sets up Rob Blake, who blows the puck past Felix Potvin.
avi: 1185 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
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Nelson Emerson ties the game at 1 when he floats the puck over Patrick Roy's shoulder.
avi: 1508 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
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Chris Drury gets the go-ahead goal and puts the Avs up 2-1.
avi: 1033 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Cable Modem
Ville Nieminen pings the puck in off the crossbar and gets the insurance goal.
avi: 1370 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN
Cable Modem
 Rob Blake was relieved to overcome the Kings in Game 7.
wav: 395 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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