And it comes down to this...

Sorry, but I gotta try and create some drama out of a meaningless preseason game. The starting goalies are done for the evening. Jonathan Quick will be in net for the Kings, while Jason Bacashihua takes over for Colorado.

And before I can spit out that sentence, Matt Moulson has tied this one up at the 20-second mark. Bacashihua couldn't handle a rebound off a shot by Dustin Brown, so there you have it. Moulson from Brown and Anze Kopitar on the power play.

One thing I forgot to mention earlier - both these teams have new head coaches this year. Terry Murray took over for former Avs coach Marc Crawford in L.A., while Tony Granato replaces Joel Quenneville for the Avs. It's an interesting situation for Granato, who coached the Avs in 2003 and 2004 before being demoted to assistant when Quenneville was hired. Now, Tony G. is back behind the Avs bench and sports the best winning percentage of any coach in franchise history coming in.

Shots are 27-13, Los Angeles. If not for the play of Budaj earlier, the Avalanche would be getting lit up. The red light that comes on when a goal is scored would have long since burned out.

Up here in the press box, it's obvious the effects of hosting the DNC are still being felt. The NHL officials were working earlier to get the instant replay system set back up...seems they have a lot of trouble with those things these days in Denver.

The Kings just killed off another Colorado power play. The Avs are now 1-for-4 with the man advantage. On another note, Joe Sakic about took Quick's head off with a blistering high wrist shot from the slot.

The Avs have just retaken the lead. A blast from the point by defenseman Darcy Campbell appeared to be tipped on the way to the net by forward Brian Willsie, just reacquired by the Avs from the Kings as a free agent this summer. For the time being, Campbell is getting credited with the goal and Paul Stastny gets his second assist of the evening. Time of the goal is 11:36 of the third period.

Adam Foote just fired the puck over the glass, earning himself a free, all-expenses paid trip to the penalty box for delay of game. So, the Kings have an opportunity to snatch back the momentum from the Avs.

Darcy Tucker just got planted face-first into the boards, bringing the trainers out. The fans are not happy, chanting for Scott Parker to come out on the ice to make the Kings pay the price. We'll see if Granato obliges and puts the Avs' 6-foot-5, 245-pound enforcer out there. On second thought, maybe Tucker will stand up for himself - the man didn't miss a shift even after being helped off the ice.

Stastny's headed to the box for hooking, giving L.A. a power play and a chance to tie this one up with three and a half minutes to go. Will the Kings pull Quick for a sixth skater? We'll see.

Just after Colorado kills off the penalty, a great give-and-go between Brown, Moulson and Kopitar has this one tied up again with 1:33 left. This one has overtime written all over it. Maybe it's a good thing for the Avs to get that experience, since overtime is played at 4-on-4.

That's the end of the third period. The Avs and Kings are tied, despite Los Angeles winning the shots-on-goal battle 39-16. That just goes to show it's quality, not quantity.

Quick holds strong on a couple good chances by Stastny and Ryan Smyth with 1:33 left in the extra frame. Of course if nobody scores, this one's going to a shootout - something I've never seen in person. This could be good.

OK, to the shootout we go, much to the delight of the burgundy and blue-clad crowd. We'll see who each team goes with, as they get three shooters each.

The Avs lead off with Tucker. No goal. Kopitar shoots for the Kings - great glove save by Bacashihua.

Sakic has the next shot, and misses high. So, Dustin Brown has a chance to put L.A. ahead, and Bacashihua makes another save.

Smyth's turn - save by Quick. That means Ted Purcell has the chance to win it, and scores. That'll do it - L.A. 4, Colorado 3.