DENVER—It seems that the Kings had enough rest to make a battle for the lead count. Anze Kopitar’s pair of goals in the second half of regulation helped the Kings stave off the Colorado Avalanche 6-4 at Pepsi Center Wednesday night. The numerous goals help improve on their offense and holding a two-game winning streak.

With a long break and the struggle to score more on offense, the Kings time off gave them a chance to work on getting pucks to the net before their road trip to Colorado. Robyn Regehr was the first King to stand up for his team as his drive five minutes in zipped by netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere for his third goal of the season.

Colorado had a late start on their offense midway through the first period, but on their opening power play, Ryan O’Reilly evened up the score on a wrister in front of Martin Jones after a lengthy pass play between all parties involved for his 22nd. PA Parenteau made it the Avs game to control with three and a half left on a short drive that went over the shoulder of Jones and into the net for his 11th and first since February 3. The Avs late offense barely helped them outshoot the Kings 8-7.

The Kings wasted no time in the second showing they weren’t out of this game as they won the face-off and carried the puck into the Colorado end for Jarret Stoll to score his seventh of the season to even the game back at two apiece. It tookColoradoawhile to recover from the surprise so early in the period, but they again challenged the Kings’ defense. Colorado again made use on the power play with Andre Benoit gaining his third on a deflection from Nathan MacKinnon giving him his 23rd assist.

The Avs two goal lead didn’t hold for long as the Kings top line had yet to make their move on the puck. Kopitar made the first strike with a backhander along with Justin Williams and Slava Voynov to cut the margin in half with 4:10 left in the second. Carter caught a lucky break on a tip in front of Giguere where Mike Richard’s drive stopped dead in traffic for the first line center to make the game even at four.

The third period was all Los Angeles at the start, as the Kings earlier hot streak moved beyond the second intermission for Kopitar to get one more behind the Colorado goaltender. His 19th of the season came during the Kings third power play of the night and never to relinquish the lead. Their one goal margin caused the Avalanche to attack hard in the final minutes, but to no avail as Jones taking place for Jonathan Quick who saw action during the Olympics fought off any late moves from their division rivals.

His hard work left the Avs no choice, but to pull Giguere from the net only to have Williams score on the empty net for his 15th and the Kings first win since the break. Jones picked up his ninth win making 25 saves in what he can expect to be a long time in net before Quick returns to the net. The Kings move north of the border to face Calgary before returning home for the weekend.

By Rudy Martinez