Stastny scores twice as Avs rout Kings, 4-1

By Pat Graham

Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, Feb. 22 2012 9:35 p.m. MST

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Los Angeles Kings left wing Kyle Clifford, right, and Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly, left, fight for the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, in Denver.

Chris Schneider, Associated Press

Summary

Paul Stastny scored two goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped 32 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat Los Angeles 4-1 on Wednesday night for their first season sweep of the Kings in nearly two decades.

DENVER — Paul Stastny scored two goals, Semyon Varlamov stopped 32 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat Los Angeles 4-1 on Wednesday night for their first season sweep of the Kings in nearly two decades.

Mark Olver and Jay McClement also added goals for the Avalanche, who have won three straight at home and moved to within two points of Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Colorado went 4-0 against Los Angeles this season, the first time the team has swept the series since 1992-93, when the franchise was in Quebec.

The Avalanche scored three goals in a fast first period, leading the Kings to pull Jonathan Quick, one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. Quick was replaced by Jonathan Bernier in the second.

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