Kings 4, Avalanche 1: Jeff Carter scored for the third straight contest and fifth time in six outings as Los Angeles snapped a five-game winless streak against visiting Colorado.

Anze Kopitar collected a goal and an assist while captain Dustin Brown and Trevor Lewis also scored. Jonathan Quick turned aside 23 shots for the Kings, who cruised to their season-high third straight victory and fifth in six games.

Veteran Milan Hejduk scored and captain Gabriel Landeskog had an assist in his return from an 11-game absence with a concussion. Semyon Varlamov finished with 22 saves for the Avalanche, who fell to 2-6-0 away from Colorado this season.

After Brown opened the scoring just 58 seconds into the contest, Carter continued his strong play of late by doubling the lead with 5:38 remaining in the first period. Carter accepted Mike Richards' pass before beating Varlamov from just outside the left faceoff circle for his team-leading ninth goal.

Hejduk showed no ill effects from his torso injury by firing a wrist shot past Quick during a power play at 1:16 of the second period, but Lewis answered with a short-handed goal just 1:35 later. Jarret Stoll blocked defenseman Tyson Barrie's shot, allowing Lewis to skate down the right wing and shoot the puck between Varlamov's legs.

GAME NOTEBOOK: A moment of silence was observed for Dr. Jerry Buss prior to the game. Buss, who died on Monday, was a longtime owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and also purchased the Kings in 1979. He was 80. ... Saturday's tilt was the first in a stretch of 13 home games in 16 outings for Los Angeles. The Kings have played just five contests (3-1-1) at the Staples Center this season. ... Lewis' was the first short-handed tally by Los Angeles in 2013 - and the first such goal allowed by Colorado.