#LAKings Kings look to rest, regroup before facing Avalanche (Daily News)
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After surrendering five goals to San Jose forward Timo Meier in a 6-2 loss Monday afternoon and being out-dueled 6-4 by the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night, the Kings took a much-needed day to recharge before they welcome the NHLs most lethal offensive team, the Colorado Avalanche, to town on Thursday night.
We need to get some rest. I dont know if were physically worn out or mentally, four games in six nights with a little travel, Kings coach Todd McLellan said. Well get that, and obviously weve got a huge challenge ahead of us with Colorado.
With a goalie in the net, the Kings have given up 11 goals on 41 shots in two games, which was largely an indictment of the quality of opportunities they have afforded their opponents.
A little bit of everything (has gone wrong), McLellan said. Youve heard us use the word identity a lot in the last month and its gone away on us again a little bit.
On the positive side, winger Viktor Arvidsson carries a five-game point streak into the match with Colorado. Winger Alex Iafallo and defenseman Sean Durzi have each accumulated four points in as many games. Center Phillip Danault has eight points in eight games this calendar year.
The Kings will need all that firepower and more against the never-more-appropriately-named Avalanche.
Last season, the Kings won just one of eight games against Colorado, in which they were outscored 28-12.
Weve got to play them. Id be concerned if the Ontario Reign was coming in, McLellan said, referencing the teams AHL affiliate. It doesnt matter who we play, its about us, and weve got to clean some things up.
Their opponent, however, undoubtedly still carries a bit of extra heft.
Colorado had won 13 of its last 15 games through Tuesday and had earned points in 16 of its last 17, buoyed further by a 14-game winning streak at home.
The Central Division leaders have been the leagues most explosive team offensively, scoring 4.25 goals per game. They have half a dozen players scoring more than a point-per-game this season, the most of any NHL team.
Center Nazem Kadri, whose career high for a full season is 61 points, is on pace to shatter that with 49 points in 33 games. Kadri was named to the Centrals All-Star roster on Tuesday after the Last Men In voting closed.
Winger Mikko Rantanen paces the Avs in goals (20) as part of his 46 points in 33 games. Center Nathan MacKinnon has accumulated 40 points in 26 games, and Cale Makar leads all NHL defensemen in points per game, logging 37 points in 32 matches. Team captain Gabriel Landeskog signed an eight-year, $56 million contract extension before the season, which he has justified with 37 points in 28 games.
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Colorado has been a strong third-period team, posting a 22-1-1 record when entering the third period either tied or with a lead. The Avs led the league with 55 third-period goals through Tuesday.
In goal, Darcy Kuemper took the reins following the departure of Philipp Grubauer in free agency. However, Kuemper sustained an apparent head injury against Minnesota on Monday on a controversial play by Wild winger Jordan Greenway, and he was relieved by Pavel Francouz.
If there has been an Achilles heel for Colorado, it has been its penalty kill, which ranks 28th out of 32 teams, tied with the Kings. Colorados PK units might be put to the test sans Kuemper.
COLORADO AT KINGS
When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: ESPN / iHeartRadio (English) / 1330 AM (Spanish)
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/01/19...ing-avalanche/
We need to get some rest. I dont know if were physically worn out or mentally, four games in six nights with a little travel, Kings coach Todd McLellan said. Well get that, and obviously weve got a huge challenge ahead of us with Colorado.
With a goalie in the net, the Kings have given up 11 goals on 41 shots in two games, which was largely an indictment of the quality of opportunities they have afforded their opponents.
A little bit of everything (has gone wrong), McLellan said. Youve heard us use the word identity a lot in the last month and its gone away on us again a little bit.
On the positive side, winger Viktor Arvidsson carries a five-game point streak into the match with Colorado. Winger Alex Iafallo and defenseman Sean Durzi have each accumulated four points in as many games. Center Phillip Danault has eight points in eight games this calendar year.
The Kings will need all that firepower and more against the never-more-appropriately-named Avalanche.
Last season, the Kings won just one of eight games against Colorado, in which they were outscored 28-12.
Weve got to play them. Id be concerned if the Ontario Reign was coming in, McLellan said, referencing the teams AHL affiliate. It doesnt matter who we play, its about us, and weve got to clean some things up.
Their opponent, however, undoubtedly still carries a bit of extra heft.
Colorado had won 13 of its last 15 games through Tuesday and had earned points in 16 of its last 17, buoyed further by a 14-game winning streak at home.
The Central Division leaders have been the leagues most explosive team offensively, scoring 4.25 goals per game. They have half a dozen players scoring more than a point-per-game this season, the most of any NHL team.
Center Nazem Kadri, whose career high for a full season is 61 points, is on pace to shatter that with 49 points in 33 games. Kadri was named to the Centrals All-Star roster on Tuesday after the Last Men In voting closed.
Winger Mikko Rantanen paces the Avs in goals (20) as part of his 46 points in 33 games. Center Nathan MacKinnon has accumulated 40 points in 26 games, and Cale Makar leads all NHL defensemen in points per game, logging 37 points in 32 matches. Team captain Gabriel Landeskog signed an eight-year, $56 million contract extension before the season, which he has justified with 37 points in 28 games.
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Colorado has been a strong third-period team, posting a 22-1-1 record when entering the third period either tied or with a lead. The Avs led the league with 55 third-period goals through Tuesday.
In goal, Darcy Kuemper took the reins following the departure of Philipp Grubauer in free agency. However, Kuemper sustained an apparent head injury against Minnesota on Monday on a controversial play by Wild winger Jordan Greenway, and he was relieved by Pavel Francouz.
If there has been an Achilles heel for Colorado, it has been its penalty kill, which ranks 28th out of 32 teams, tied with the Kings. Colorados PK units might be put to the test sans Kuemper.
COLORADO AT KINGS
When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: ESPN / iHeartRadio (English) / 1330 AM (Spanish)
https://www.dailynews.com/2022/01/19...ing-avalanche/