"One effective line and one goal were not nearly enough for the Kings on Saturday night, a refrain that is becoming all too familiar.

Their 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, played before a restless crowd at Staples Center, was another example of their offensive shortcomings and inability to get the balance and depth they need to make an impact in the Western Conference.

Worn down by Colorado's physical play in the early going, the Kings mustered four shots in the first period against Jean-Sebastien Giguere and 26 overall. Although it might seem picky to find fault in a defeat that was only the Kings' second regulation loss in 17 games — the last 16 of those under Coach Darryl Sutter — the lackluster play of everyone but Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams was alarming when they knew a victory would have put them atop the Pacific Division.

"It's hard to get shots when you don't have everyone playing the right way, I guess," Brown said. "It's going to take 20 guys. Tonight, I don't think we had 20. That's the bottom line.

"Tonight we had some good lines, but you need four lines if you want to win games in this league."

Williams said the Kings allowed the Avalanche to dictate the physical tone and pace of the game, two big mistakes."