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Snow job Avs take Game 7 against Kings to move on to face SharksPosted: Tuesday April 30, 2002 12:23 AMUpdated: Tuesday April 30, 2002 2:14 AM
DENVER (AP) -- Patrick Roy proved again why he's considered the best big-game goalie in the NHL. Roy stopped 23 shots and Colorado scored three goals in the second period as the Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Monday night in a Game 7 rematch of last year. "It's all about emotions in the playoffs and there is a guy, when it's up and down, he's always in control," said Colorado defenseman Adam Foote, who scored an empty-net goal with 3:13 left. Roy won his third straight Game 7 and extended his record of playoff shutouts to 21. He stopped 11 shots in the second period, including a hard slap shot from Zigmund Palffy and one from close range by Jason Allison on a power play. The crowd began chanting "Roy! Roy!" after a save on a power play midway through the third period, and Roy seemed to be soaking it in as he glanced around the arena.
"I always try to keep the same level of intensity and focus," said Roy, who had allowed three or more goals four times in the series. "Sometimes maybe a Game 7, it's a bit easier to focus and concentrate." The victory puts Colorado in the Western Conference semifinals for the fourth straight year and sixth time in seven seasons in Denver. The Avalanche will face San Jose in the second round beginning Wednesday night in Denver. The series was eerily similar to the conference semifinals a year ago. The Kings rallied from a 3-1 deficit last year before losing handily in Game 7, just as they did this year. The Avalanche struggled on offense in last year's series before coming alive in Game 7. They scored three goals in four games before breaking through in the final game this year. Los Angeles goalie Felix Potvin had consecutive shutouts to force a Game 7 last year, then gave up three goals in the third period of a 5-1 loss in the final game. He stopped 103 of 106 shots in Games 3 through 6 this year, but allowed three goals in the second on Monday.
"We've done it two times in a row and the Avalanche have been victorious in both games," Los Angeles coach Andy Murray said. "They are a great team, but we would have liked to had a different outcome." Chris Drury, who scored the winning goal in Game 7 against Los Angeles last year, opened the scoring 5:08 into the second with a spectacular goal. Drury fought off Eric Belanger near the blue line, then slipped the puck around Jaroslav Modry. He got back to the puck just in time to flick a shot over Potvin's right shoulder. "That was great effort by Chris, but let's not forget who started the play," said Roy, who had an assist on the goal. Alex Tanguay made it 2-0 54 seconds later after a bad bounce for Los Angeles. Kings defenseman Mathieu Schneider got in front of a shot by Milan Hejduk in the slot, but the puck bounced off his right skate to the left circle. Tanguay, who was alone, gathered the puck and lifted a shot past Potvin on the stick side for his second of the series. Los Angeles coach Andy Murray followed with a timeout and the fans chanted "Potvin! Potvin!" after the Kings returned to the ice. Steven Reinprecht made it 3-0 with 2:28 left, punching in a rebound off his own shot a few seconds after a Colorado power play. Potvin stopped Reinprecht after he circled around the net, but couldn't get his skate over in time for the second shot after doing the splits. "There's nothing to be satisfied with," said Potvin, who faced 27 shots. "All we did was take them to seven games. It's disappointing to be there twice and not be able to pull it off." Colorado was sharp in the first, working two power plays with crisp passing and peppering Potvin with 12 shots. Los Angeles had just three shots in the first. "We controlled the play in the first period," Colorado coach Bob Hartley said. "And when we gave Patrick a cushion, we knew we were in good shape." Los Angeles forward Adam Deadmarsh (neck) and defenseman Philippe Boucher (eye) didn't make the trip. Forward Cliff Ronning, who returned for Game 6 after missing two games with a concussion, was a late scratch. Notes: Colorado rookie RW Radim Vrbata, who scored 18 goals during the regular season, was scratched after not scoring a point in the first six games of the series. ... Murray, who got into a verbal sparring match with Hartley after Game 6, was booed during introductions. ... Roy has won three straight Game 7s after losing four in a row. ... The team that scored first won each of the 14 games of the last two series.
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