Eurolanche

Kings seeking sixth straight win

Season series: The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 at home on Oct. 18. Kings forward Tyler Toffoli scored the game-winning goal late in the second period on a breakaway. The Kings limited the Avalanche to 20 shots on goal. Matt Duchene scored for Colorado.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado did not practice Sunday, one day after a 4-0 loss to the visiting Calgary Flames. Forward Jarome Iginla missed a chance to score his 600th career goal against his former team and that possibility took away the team's focus, according to coach Patrick Roy. "Jarome is a team guy," Roy told the Avalanche website after the game. "I know he wants to see it, but the guys, at the same time, they would have loved to see that happen [Saturday] against Calgary." Roy also said the Avalanche has to play better at Pepsi Center, where it is 6-9-3. "We need to be better in our building. We need to dominate in our building and be more dangerous," he said. "We have to play better hockey again in our building." Defenseman Tyson Barrie returned Saturday after missing Thursday's game with flu-like symptoms. It was the second time the Avalanche were shut out this season. Goalie Semyon Varlamov has started 12 of the past 14 games. Colorado has gone 1-2-2 in its past five games.

Kings team scope: Injured center Jeff Carter (upper body) participated in an optional practice before the flight to Denver. Carter hasn't played since the first period of the Kings' 4-3 overtime win against the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 26. Coach Darryl Sutter told the Kings website that Carter would travel with the team but did not say whether he will play. Forward Kyle Clifford (upper body) was not on the ice and hasn't skated since taking an elbow to the face in a 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 6. With a 2-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, the Kings have won five in a row. But Sutter would like to see more from his depth players. "There's times we have to get more out of our third pair and we've got to get more out of our third line. So now [Dwight King, Trevor Lewis and Dustin Brown] have been a little bit better, so that's helped us getting them in the lineup. I'd like to get more out of our fourth line in terms of not being in their own zone for as long as they are, things like that," Sutter said.

-- by Tim Wharnsby for NHL.com --