Avalanche rookie goaltender leaves with injury

LOS ANGELES -- Colorado Avalanche rookie goaltender Sami Aittokallio didn't make it through his NHL debut.

The 20-year-old left the game against the Los Angeles Kings midway through the third period and wasn't around for the end of L.A.'s 3-2 shootout

Aittokallio appeared to have his leg buckle at 9:24 of the third while the Kings were attacking shorthanded. He was helped off the ice and replaced by Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

"He had cramps in the legs," coach Joe Sacco said. "Both legs cramped up. Obviously it was pretty serious because he couldn't finish the game. Just dehydrated.

Aittokallio, 20, was the second-youngest goalie to start a game for Colorado, behind Marc Denis, who was 19 in 1996. Aittokallio allowed two goals on the first six shots he faced but settled down and the game was tied 2-2 when he left.

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