Avalanche take lead

The Sabres' Hasek kept out Lemieux

Click here for Monday's NHL results

Colorado Avalanche 4-3 LA Kings

The Avalanche recorded their second successive victory to move 2-1 ahead in the Western Conference semi-final.

The top-ranked NHL team were grateful to Jon Klemm, who scored his first play-off goal of the season midway through the third period to help the Avalanche regain momentum.

With 10 minutes remaining, the Kings had pulled the score back to 3-2 on Glen Murray's power-play goal.

But in front of a sell-out crowd at the Staples Center Klemm responded 34 seconds later. He stole in from his defensive post position, took Alex Tanguay's deflected pass and banged the puck past goaltender Felix Potvin.

Potvin was beaten four times

That goal allowed Colorado to withstand a goal by Ziggy Palffy with 40 seconds remaining.

They played most of the game without captain Joe Sakic, who was injured in the first period and did not return.

But Milan Hejduk picked up a goal and two assists and Peter Forsberg added a goal and an assist for the Avalanche.

Luc Robitaille also scored on the power play for the Kings, who host Game Four on Wednesday night.

---

Buffalo Sabres 4-1 Pittsburgh Penguins

The Sabres stopped the rot in their Eastern Conference semi-final as they crushed the Penguins to cut their series deficit to 2-1.

Before they hit three goals in the third period, the Sabres had failed to score in 169 minutes of the series.

Jason Woolley and Miroslav Satan finally found a way past Johan Hedberg to give the Sabres a 3-1 lead.

Appearing in only his 18th NHL game, Hedberg continued his brilliant play, making 26 saves.

But he suffered his fourth loss since being acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline.

History

Kevin Stevens opened the scoring in the first period for the Penguins, who had their winning streak halted at four games.

Mario Lemieux was kept off the scoresheet and Jaromir Jagr sat out his second straight game for the Penguins, who are hoping that history does not repeat itself.

Pittsburgh won the first two games of its Conference semi-final series with Philadelphia on the road last year before losing the final four.

Curtis Brown tied it at 1-1 and defender James Patrick scored into an empty net for the Sabres, who are 3-1 on the road in the post-season.

Back to top

Monday's results

Eastern Conference semi-final
Pittsburgh 1-4 Buffalo
(Pittsburgh lead best-of-seven series 2-1)

Los Angeles 3-4 Colorado
Colorado lead best-of-seven series 2-1)