Former Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj stopped all 22 shots he faced and the Los Angeles Kings skated to an easy 5-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. The loss runs Colorado’s season-high losing streak to nine games. Colorado has earned just one point – an overtime loss in San Jose on Jan. 21 – during the streak. Spencer Martin, making his third start on Wednesday, has three of the nine losses.
The Avs surrendered three goals in the first period, including one in the first minute of the game to Marian Gaborik. John Mitchell took 17 penalty minutes for a fight with Brayden McNabb. Mitchell was charged with five for fighting, a 10-minute game misconduct and a two-minute instigator penalty served by Carl Soderberg.
Jeff Carter scored twice for Los Angeles in the first period to extend his team high points and goals. Carter now has 26 goals and 46 on the season. His 26 goals are second in the NHL.
Colorado returns to Pepsi Center on Saturday night against Winnipeg. The Avs are just 5-18-1 at home this season and their 10-game losing streak on home ice earlier this year was a franchise high. At nine consecutive losses, they are still five away from the franchise record of 14 straight.
