The Kings scored their first goal at the 11:05 mark when Matt Greene scored just his second goal of the season, assisted by Alexander Frolov. That goal was the lone goal for the first period. In the second period, the Kings once again scored the lone goal as Anze Kopitar notched his 21st goal of the season. Ryan Smyth and Wayne Simmonds got together on the assist.

In the third period, Ryan Smyth and Anze Kopitar added his second goal of the game to give Los Angeles a 4-0 lead. Columbus scored their lone goal of the night with 9:22 to go. Antoine Vermette scored his 17th goal of the season to put the Blue Jackets on the score board. The Blue Jackets out shot the Kings 30-18, including 12-3 in the final period.

The win for the Kings moved them to 31-19-3 overall, while Columbus fell to 21-26-9. The Blue Jackets will now host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. The game will feature the 13th and 14th team in the Western Conference. St. Louis leads the Blue Jackets by 3 points for fourth place in the Central Division. St. Louis is 9-14-4 at home, and the Blue Jackets are 9-17-4 on the road.

The Avs will not be traveling with Adam Foote, still suffering from his torn tricep injury, thereby successfully ducking the various “Burn Foote In Effigy” events planned for his return. The EBay market for Foote bobbleheads to commit atrocities against has dropped dramatically in recent days.

The Avs come into the game with 51 points, and a 3 – 7 record over their past 10 games. That span includes an 8 game homes stand, during which they went 3 -5. They are 2 – 1 in their last 3, including consecutive wins over Calgary and Dallas at home, followed by a 4 – 1 road loss at St. Louis.

The Avs rank 20th in Goals Scored, 22nd in Goals Against, 20th on the Power Play and 25th on the PK. Although the Jackets are still 30th on the PP, they have been playing at just about a 17% clip since December. They remain 13th in goals agains, 21st in Goals Scored and 19th on the PK.

Despite Colorado falling on hard times, due largely to injury and age, they are not to be taken lightly. Ryan Smyth is always a Jacket killker, and leads the Avs with 16-26-42. Hejduk has been playing well of late, and is close behind at 20-20-40.

The keys for us are as follows:

Size Matters — We have a considerable size advantage over this club, which we have used to our advantage this year, and need to continue. Outman them in front of the net, out muscle them for the puck.

Picket Fence — Watching that line of bodies in the neutral zone against San Jose was a joy. We can be so disruptive and difficult to play when we do that, check hard and forecheck. Let’s see more of that tonight.

Crispness — Good passing, heads up, support in our own zone, aggressiveness on offense — play with purpose.

No Letdowns — We need another full 60 minute effort, supporting our young netminder, getting in the habit of getting an opponent down, then finishing them off. I’d like this game to be in the Jacket’s pocket by the end of the 2nd, and have us put our foot on the gas more in the 3rd, just so they can get a feeling for it.

Every two points means a lot at this point of the season, but a sweep of the Avs would be extra sweet. Go Jackets!!