DEFENSE STILL KEY FOR KINGS MURRAY SAYS AVS MADE MOST OF THEIR CHANCES.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

DENVER - It's playoff hockey in almost every discernible sense, from the tight checking to the big saves to the breathtaking power-play opportunities, but the Kings and the Colorado Avalanche combined for seven goals in Thursday's Game 1, a rare outburst of offense in the postseason.

While most teams feel fortunate to score two goals in a playoff game, the Kings scored three and still lost Game 1, which must make them wonder what they need to do in order to beat the Avalanche and tie the series this afternoon at Pepsi Center.

``We just felt that three should have been enough to win it,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``But did we squander an opportunity? I think any time you lose a game, it's one less game you have to try to win in the series, so we were disappointed, but I wouldn't say we squandered it.

``From a chance perspective, we out-chanced the Avalanche, but we made some key mistakes and they're certainly a great team and capitalized on them.''

It's no surprise to see a lot of offense between the Kings and the Avalanche. The teams combined for 27 goals in four regular-season games, but goals usually become scarce in the playoffs as teams tighten up defensively and try to eliminate potential game-changing mistakes.

But although both the Kings' and Avalanche's systems are based around strong defense, they are also aggressive teams that like to involve their defensive players in the offensive attack, and these teams are so familiar with each other that there really wasn't any need for a feeling-out period in Game 1.

``Both teams rely on defense, but the offense got the better of them,'' Kings forward Bryan Smolinski said. ``Both teams capitalized on mistakes. They scored one power play and three during the five-on-five, and we scored one power play and two with five-on-five, so it was very close, but they got one more than we did.''

The seven combined goals doesn't mean the game was wide open. Besides the two power-play goals, two of Colorado's other goals came after just a brief flurry of offense, a turnover in the Kings' zone or a fortunate tip by Peter Forsberg to keep the puck in the zone and set up a goal.

``It would be difficult to convince the players that there's a lot of open ice out there,'' Murray said, ``because both teams are taking a lot of punishment physically and it's been demanding that way. Both teams play a pressure forecheck, we don't sit back, and there's been some turnovers created because of that.

``But I think the emphasis still is to be better defensively.''

It seems unlikely the teams could keep up the torrid offensive pace for the rest of the series, but the Kings' history with Colorado this season makes it possible. It's just more likely that this series will follow last season's second round, when the Kings won Game 1 4-3 but the series then turned defensive the rest of the way.

``I don't really know what to expect,'' Murray said. ``Know they're going to be hotly contested and physical. Both teams have a lot of pride. I would think they would probably be lower-scoring based on the playoffs last year, but it's hard to say. If we can get a win 8-7, I think we'll take it.''

The Kings will be lucky to score eight goals against Patrick Roy total through the rest of the series. Roy allowed an average of less than two goals per game during the regular season, but the Kings scored 12 goals against him in the four regular-season games.

``These are two teams that are just prepared to go after the other team,'' Kings defenseman Mattias Norstrom said. ``Rather than hesitate, we both go all out. All year long these teams have won because of their offensive players, and these are two teams that are just going to put it out on the line and go for it.''

KINGS at COLORADO

What: Western Conference quarterfinals, Game 2

When: Today, noon

TV: Ch. 7; 1110-AM

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kings goaltender Felix Potvin deflects a shot during the first period of Thursday night's Stanley Cup first-round game in Colorado.

(2) Kings players Craig Johnson (23), Bryan Smolinski and Cliff Ronning celebrate Smolinski's power-play goal Thursday night.

Dave Zalubowski/Associated Press

Box:

KINGS at COLORADO (see text)