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Familiar road Kings hope to force a Game 7 back in Denver like last yearPosted: Friday April 26, 2002 7:16 PMLOS ANGELES (AP) -- Down one game to defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado, Los Angeles coach Andy Murray sounds as if the Kings have the Avalanche right where they want them. "When you start on the road, what you want is Game 6 in your building," Murray said Friday. "Then anything can happen in Game 7." He smiled and added, "Of course, you have to get Game 7." Colorado leads the best-of-seven series 3-2, with the Kings' 1-0 overtime win in Denver on Thursday forcing the Avalanche to return to Los Angeles for Game 6 Saturday afternoon. The Kings came back from a 3-1 deficit last year to send that second-round series to a seventh game, which the Avalanche won 5-1 in Denver on their way to the Stanley Cup. Colorado coach Bob Hartley wasn't interested in hearing about last year. "As far as I know, we advanced. If you can guarantee me the same outcome, I won't even bother flying to L.A.," Hartley said. Murray said that while he was sure the Avalanche would have preferred not to return to Los Angeles, "The bottom line is that they just want to win the series." The Kings are expected to be without left wing Adam Deadmarsh, out with a neck injury, and defenseman Philippe Boucher, who was struck near the eye by the puck in Thursday's game. Right wing Cliff Ronning, who hasn't played since the third game because of a concussion, might be able to go in Game 6. Murray didn't seem particularly concerned. "I don't care. The rules say we can dress 20 players and we'll have 20 players," the Los Angeles coach said. "We don't feel sorry for ourselves, because nobody else will. "This is just another test, another challenge for us. Bring it on. We've met a lot of tests, a lot of challenges this year." Colorado left wing Peter Forsberg, who had a goal and four assists in the first two games of the series but has just one assist since, has been absorbing a lot of punishment from the Kings. In Game 5, he took several hard blows away from the puck, but no penalties were called. Meanwhile, he drew two penalties. "It's frustrating because he probably got three or four sticks in the face that were not called," Hartley said. "Many other teams have addressed this issue since the start of the playoffs and there's no sense for us going into details." The tone of the series changed since the first three games, when the teams combined for a total of 19 goals. Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy shut out the Kings 1-0 in Game 4, then Los Angeles goalie Felix Potvin returned the favor in the Kings' overtime victory in Game 5. Potvin, who had shutouts in the fifth and six games against Colorado last year, has allowed two goals in the last three games after giving up nine in the first two contests. "We saw some wide-open games, we saw some tight-checking games, and what's going to be in [Game 6], I don't know," Hartley said. Colorado's Dan Hinote said familiarity breeds low-scoring games. "I think after all the video and the games that we've played against each other, now we know how to counteract each other's offense," Hinote said. "It's going to be a tight game, it's going to be a lucky bounce that decides the game." Game 5 ended with a controversial bounce -- the puck caromed off the skate of Los Angeles' Craig Johnson, past Roy and into the net. Hartley thought Johnson kicked the puck in, which would have nullified the goal. Murray contended that Johnson's skate was not behind the puck, so he couldn't have kicked it. The Kings' coach said that, after watching a replay, there was no doubt in his mind that the goal was good, but he added, "And I'm sure that in Bob Hartley's mind, there's no doubt it was kicked in." Game 7, if necessary, will be played Monday night in Denver.
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