Avalanche set to bury Kings

Patrick Roy was in outstanding form for Colorado

Click here for Wednesday's NHL results

Western Conference

A 17th career shutout by Patrick Roy helped put the Colorado Avalanche on the verge of their third straight NHL Western Conference finals appearance as they beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-0.

Roy started the game with a .899 save percentage, which was one of the worst among goaltenders in the postseason.

But he managed to keep the game scoreless in a lopsided first half, and recorded his second shutout of the semi-finals.

The victory means Colorado are 3-1 ahead in their best-of-seven-series.

Alex Tanguay, Milan Hejduk and Chris Drury all got on the scoresheet with second-period goals for the Avalanche.

They can eliminate the Kings at home on Friday night.

Eastern Conference

Straka's penalty was saved by fellow Czech Hasek

The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to extend their series lead over the Buffalo Sabres as they lost 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek stopped Martin Straka's penalty shot with 11:53 remaining and the Penguins caved in to three third-period goals to tie the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

Pittsburgh trailed 3-2 when Straka was taken down on a breakaway by defenceman Jason Woolley, but could not lift the puck over his former Czech Republic Olympic team-mate.

Former Penguin Stu Barnes scored twice in the third period for the Sabres, who recorded their second straight road victory.

Game five is on Saturday afternoon in Buffalo.

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Wednesday's results

Eastern Conference semi-finals
Buffalo 5-2 Pittsburgh
(Best-of-seven series tied 2-2)

Western Conference semi-finals
Colorado 3-0 Los Angeles 0
(Colorado lead best-of-seven series 3-1)