Game 32: Kings 5, Avalanche 0

Wrapping up the last game of a five-game road trip, the Kings find themselves at 2-2. A loss to the white-hot Colorado Avalanche would deem the trip a failure, a win would increase the Kings' devastation in the December To Dismember.

But the Avalanche looked to be a tough cookie to crack. Coming into the game, the Avs boasted the league's highest scoring offense, as well as the third-best power play. Colorado also happened to be riding a six-game winning streak.

The Kings were coming off a disappointing game against the Blackhawks on Sunday. Still down two defensemen, it seemed like the Kings would be heading back to L.A. with a losing record on the road trip.

Guess that's why they play the games, eh?

The Kings came out with purpose and resolve against the Avalanche, determined not to let another Western Conference foe get the better of them. They out-shot, out-hustled and out-played their Western Conference rivals Tuesday night, handing the Avalanche a brutal 5-0 shellacking at Pepsi Arena.

Defenseman Rob Scuderi, the stalwart on L.A.'s blueline got things started in the first period with his first goal of the season (first goal in two years actually). The goal eventually wound up being the clincher, giving Scuderi his first-ever game-winning goal.

In the second period, Brad Richardson continued his hot hand at Mile High, flipping the puck past  Craig Anderson to make it 2-0. On the season, Richardson has five goals, four of which came against Colorado. (Remember, Richardson had a hat trick against the Avs back in October.)

But it wasn't until the third period that the wheels fell off for Colorado. The Captain Dustin Brown scored twice, including one right as he got out of the penalty box, to make it 4-0. Then, on the power play, Justin Williams scored so fast, Fox Sports couldn't cut away fast enough from their prepared hockey analysis to show it.

Not to forget, but Jonathan Quick notched his third shutout of the season, cooling another scorching-hot team for the second time in eight days. Quick all halted 23 shots, including a furious exchange late in the third to secure the win. Quick remained undefeated against the Avs, with two shutouts in his career, and can wear this shirt with pride.

Other numbers of note: Brown finished the game with two goals and two assists for four points, giving him 10 points on the road trip. With two assists on the night, Drew Doughty notched eight points (1goal, 7 assists) for the past five days. Faceoff wizard Jarret Stoll was phenomenal in the circles Tuesday, winning 12 out of 15 faceoffs.

The Kings now head home to take on the Edmonton Oilers for a Christmas Eve, er, Eve matchup. The Oil has lost three of their last four, so it looks like fans will be able to wear these shirts. Then again, they do have to actually play the game.

• AP: Quick stops 23 shots, Kings blank Avalanche 5-0

onathan Quick stopped 23 shots for his third shutout of the season, Dustin Brown(notes) had two goals and two assists, and the Kings beat Colorado 5-0 on Tuesday night to end the Avalanche’s six-game winning streak.  “This might have been the best 60 minutes we’ve played all year,” Quick said.

• LA Times: Kings' 5-0 win over Colorado is a shared experience

With a defensive effort that players declared their most complete of the season, the Kings overpowered the Avalanche, 5-0, Tuesday at the Pepsi Center, ending Colorado's six-game winning streak and becoming the first team to shut out the NHL's highest-scoring club.

• LAKings.com: Kings dismiss Avalanche 5-0

Limiting the Colorado offense had just as much to do with the Kings' forwards as it did their defensemen. The Kings put 32 shots on Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson and, even when they didn't score, the Kings made Colorado focus on defense, not offense.

• NHL.com: Kings rout Colorado 5-0 to end Avs' winning streak

"That's been our best 60 minutes, especially on the defensive side of the puck," said Brown, who matched his career high for points in a game with four -- 2 goals and 2 assists -- more than enough to back goalie Jonathan Quick's third shutout of the season and 11th of his NHL career.

They said it

“It was a playoff game. Regular season was in Sweden. I’ve got a high (shooting) percentage in Sweden, but not so much in the United States. But I’ll take them any way they come.” – Rob Scuderi, on if he remembers his last goal.

“Coming into the game, I was kind of expecting to see a little more action than I did, because of how talented they are offensively. But we played a really gritty road game, kept their chances to a minimum." – Jonathan Quick, on limiting Colorado’s chances.

“He’s a bit of an Av killer, I guess. Like I said, we played a good game defensively and, my line in particular, I felt like we were in the offensive zone a lot, and controlled the play. When that happens, you’re going to get chances and, like I said, it was a pretty good complete game for us.” – Dustin Brown, on Brad Richardson’s play.

 “It was outstanding. Kopitar was a real man out there tonight. He was powerful on the puck when he had it. When he’s on his game, you almost can’t take it away from him. He’s that powerful, that big, that strong. When he makes those plays to the net like that, you’re standing back there as a coach, and the players are there on the bench and they’re just saying, `What a great play. What a powerful player.’ Just keep her going like that, Kopi.” – Coach Terry Murray, on the play of the Kopitar line.