DENVER (Interstat) — Gabriel Landeskog scored in overtime to give the Colorado Avalanche a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 of their playoff series Tuesday night at Ball Arena. The Avalanche lead the first-round series 1-0. After a scoreless first two periods, Artemi Panarin put the Kings ahead with a wrist shot at 3:39 of the third. Landeskog answered for Colorado with 11:35 remaining in regulation to force overtime. The Avalanche captain then netted the winner, assisted by Martin Necas and Devon Toews, to complete the comeback. Colorado, the NHL’s top regular-season team with 57 wins, was projected as a heavy favorite. The Kings, who finished 35-49, have now lost two straight overtime games in the series opener. Game 3 is Thursday in Los Angeles.

DENVER (Interstat) — Gabriel Landeskog scored the tying goal late in the third period and then delivered the winner 45 seconds into overtime, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a tense 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. Before a sellout crowd of 18,142 at Ball Arena, the Avalanche seized a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-seven series by grinding out a second consecutive one-goal win. The Avalanche, who finished the regular season with 57 wins, have now taken the first two games on home ice after a 2-1 victory in the series opener on Sunday. The game was a stark defensive struggle, a far cry from the high-scoring affair projected by oddsmakers. The teams combined for only three goals, falling well under the pregame over/under line of 5.5. Colorado, installed as a 1.5-goal favorite, covered the spread with the overtime victory. For nearly 59 minutes, the Kings executed a stifling defensive game plan, limiting Colorado’s high-powered attack and relying on goaltender Anton Forsberg, who made 38 saves. Los Angeles, which finished the regular season 35-49, appeared poised to steal a game on the road and even the series. The breakthrough finally came for the Kings at 19:04 of the third period. On a sustained shift in the Colorado zone, Quinton Byfield won a puck battle along the boards and fed Trevor Moore near the goal line. Moore quickly centered to Artemi Panarin, who snapped a wrist shot past Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood for a 1-0 lead, sending the Kings’ bench into a frenzy. The celebration was short-lived. With time winding down and Wedgewood pulled for an extra attacker, the Avalanche applied relentless pressure. The tying goal came with just 1:35 remaining in regulation. After a shot from the point by Devon Toews was blocked in front, the puck caromed to Martin Necas below the goal line. He immediately fed a sharp pass to Landeskog in the slot, and the Avalanche captain made no mistake, wiring a shot past a scrambling Forsberg to force overtime and ignite the home crowd. The most important sequence of the game came almost immediately in the extra period. Colorado controlled the opening faceoff and went to work in the Los Angeles end. Just 45 seconds into overtime, Landeskog found himself alone in the high slot after a quick cycle. Taking a pass from Toews, he fired another precise wrist shot that beat Forsberg cleanly over the glove, clinching the victory and sending the Avalanche to a 2-0 series lead. Landeskog finished with the two crucial goals on four shots, along with two penalty minutes and a hit. His linemate, Nathan MacKinnon, was held off the scoresheet but generated consistent pressure with four shots on goal. Necas and Toews each recorded assists on the tying goal, with Toews adding a helper on the winner as well. For the Kings, the loss was a devastating blow after a valiant road effort. Panarin’s goal was his only shot of the night, while Byfield and Moore provided the assists. Byfield was a physical presence throughout, registering four shots and two hits. Forsberg’s heroics in net ultimately were not enough. The game was a tightly officiated affair, with both teams combining for 11 penalties. Los Angeles’s Jeff Malott was called for boarding in the second period, while Colorado’ Cale Makar took a penalty shot hooking foul on Byfield in the same frame, though the Kings could not convert the ensuing chance. The Kings’ discipline and shot-blocking, led by defensemen like Mikey Anderson and Cody Ceci, kept the Avalanche’s potent power play at bay until the critical final minutes of regulation. The series now shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings, who have lost four straight games dating back to the regular season, face a must-win scenario to avoid falling into a nearly insurmountable 3-0 series deficit. Historically, teams taking a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven NHL playoff series have gone on to win the series over 85 percent of the time. Colorado will look to continue its strong defensive play and take a stranglehold on the series, while Los Angeles must find a way to solve Wedgewood, who stopped 29 shots, and generate more offense to support its stalwart defensive effort.

Preview of NHL Playoff Game: Kings at Avalanche, Game 2 DENVER (Interstat) — The Colorado Avalanche will look to take a commanding series lead when they host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series Tuesday night at Ball Arena. The Avalanche seized home-ice advantage with a 2-1 victory in Sunday’s series opener. Colorado, which finished the regular season with a 56-27 record, has won seven of its last nine games overall and carries a 3-0-0 record against the Kings this season, including the playoff win. Los Angeles, which posted a 35-48 regular-season mark, faces near must-win pressure to avoid an 0-2 series deficit before the scene shifts to California. The Kings have lost three straight games and are 1-4-1 in their last six contests away from home. A key player to watch for the Kings is center Scott Laughton, who was their most active shooter in Game 1, registering five shots on goal. He has points in two of his last three games and has been a physical presence. For Colorado, center Jack Drury assisted on Artturi Lehkonen’s game-winning goal Sunday. Drury has been productive down the stretch, tallying two goals and four assists in his last 10 appearances. The Avalanche have dominated the recent head-to-head matchup, winning the last four meetings by a combined score of 13-6. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who made 24 saves in the Game 1 victory, is expected to start again for Colorado. The Kings will likely counter with their starter from the opener, though head coach Jim Hiller has not confirmed his Game 2 netminder. Special teams could prove critical. The Avalanche penalty kill was perfect in Game 1, stifling both Los Angeles power-play opportunities. The Kings, meanwhile, successfully killed off the only Colorado man-advantage they faced. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MDT. The series will shift to Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for Game 3 on Thursday.