First period running log

Avs just scored 30 seconds into the first power play of the contest. At 3:08 of the first period, it's Ryan Smyth from Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny. The Kings were shorthanded because of a delay-of-game penalty - apparently they didn't get their players on the ice for a faceoff fast enough for the referees' liking.

Shots are 3-1 for Colorado nearly eight minutes into this one. The Avs are getting some serious pressure on Erik Ersberg. The Smyth-Stastny-Hejduk combination is proving tough for the L.A. defensemen to cover.

And.. another Avalanche goal. Great feed from Joe Sakic to Darcy Tucker sets off the foghorn, spotlights and Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part 2" this time. That's Tucker from Sakic at 8:25.

Sakic just got robbed by Ersberg from point-blank range at 11:24 of the first period. The guy may be 39 years old, but he's showing some jump. Just chatting with some guys from Mile High Sports Radio about the Avs being picked 14th in the West by The Hockey News...hard to believe Sakic will let that happen.

Almost a fight between the Kings' Brian Boyle and the Avs' Matt Hendricks at 13:12. Hendricks got his helmet knocked off in a scrum along the boards and wasn't too pleased. No punches thrown, so we're going to see coincidental minor penalties for roughing. It'll stay 5-on-5.

Correction - it's an Avalanche power play. L.A. got an extra minor - Boyle for holding Hendricks. Smyth almost banked one in off Kings defenseman Tom Preissing in front as the power play began, but the Kings killed it off.

We'll have the first L.A. power play of the game, as Ben Guite tripped Alec Martinez at 17:59. Quite a battle between Dustin Brown and Adam Foote in front of Peter Budaj, who finds the puck through traffic and makes a save on Anze Kopitar. It's his seventh save of the period...hasn't been tested much, but he's been solid when called upon. It's a bit of a surprise that the shots are even at seven, though the Avs have had the better chances.

That's the end of the first period, with the Avs leading 2-0. Reed Doughty took a penalty late in the period for L.A., so that cut the Kings' power-play chance short. It also means that the Avs will have a power play to start the second on a fresh sheet of ice after the Zambonis clear it off during intermission.

Now, time to raid the stash of popcorn and Pepsi up here in the press box. Two of my favorite things: the Avs and Pepsi - how can I lose?