Recap: Avalanche ride opportunistic middle period to shutout win over Kings
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Avs extend their league-best home win streak to 11 games. The Aval-wagon is rolling along!
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings Thursday night by a final score of 4-0. While the Avs did not have their A-game in this contest, they were opportunistic in the second period, finding three goals on a measly five shots, showcasing this team’s ability to strike at any given moment.
Los Angeles entered tonight’s contest on a roll of their own. Winners of nine of their previous 10 games, the Kings are getting hot just in time as well, for what is going to be a gauntlet of a Western Conference playoff action come April.
The Kings didn’t have the juice to hang with Colorado tonight, despite showing at even strength what makes them a legitimate factor in the West this season. They boast a deep forward group, a respectable defense corps, but made a questionable decision to keep starter, and former Avs goaltender Darcy Kuemper on the bench tonight.
First Period
The first period got off to a little bit of a slow start, but there was no doubt about the compete level of either team out of the gate. The Kings seemed to favor a slower pace to open the game up, looking to slow down the high-tempo Avs on home ice. This philosophy worked well for Los Angeles, as they were able to maintain a low shot total in the early going, and the Kings would be rewarded with the first powerplay of the evening, after an Artturi Lehkonen cross-checking penalty.
The Kings were unable to record a shot on the powerplay, and Lehkonen put a stamp on the kill when he sat down Kings forward Alex Laferriere with an open ice hit straight out of the penalty box.
Following the kill, momentum picked up in favor of the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon had an explosive skate for a scoring chance, but the puck trickled the wrong way past David Rittich, allowing for a Kings defenseman to clear the goalmouth.
The Avs would have a minor scare, as a high shot struck Defenseman Cale Makar in his arm and had him shaken up on the bench. He would remain in the game, however.
Colorado received their first powerplay following a holding penalty against Kings forward Phil Danault, and almost had a goal on the stick of Jonathan Drouin, who opted to pass out of a prime shooting opportunity with an open net.
The Kings would get a gift of a penalty in the final seconds of the period, after a soft cross-checking call on MacKinnon sent the Avs to the kill with three seconds to go. The teams skated into the intermission scoreless, but the Kings would have an opportunity with a fullish powerplay to open the second period. The Avs dominated shots in the opening frame at 14-6, but lacked a step in their game.
Second Period
Much like the first period powerplay the Kings had, their man advantage to open the second frame lacked much danger. The Avs penalty kill has continued its upwards trajectory after a dismal start to the season, and through two kills, the Avs had the Kings loaded powerplay looking very pedestrian.
This did not result in a quick start to the Period for the Avs however, as they failed to record a shot on net in the opening five minutes of the period.
They made their first two shots count though.
Following an extended period of possession for the Avs, the legs of Cale Makar produced some magic. With Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson draped all over him, Makar shieled the puck from the blueline to the high slot, where he was able to slide a puck towards Logan O’Connor, who sent it towards the net, and found a hole through goaltender David Rittich for the 1-0 Avalanche lead.
That move from Cale Makar??? That goal from Logan O'Connor??? Here for it. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/in0IZLhj9N— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 28, 2025
Moments later, a point shot from Samuel Girard missed left of the Kings cage, and came to rest behind the net. Martin Necas dug the puck towards the netfront from the side of the post, and was able to slide it across the goal line before Rittich could stretch his pad over. Just like that, two shots on net, two Avs goals.
Can you move it like this #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/9WbWfptAex— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 28, 2025
Later in the frame, chaos would ensue in front of the Avs net. Quinton Byfield nearly put Mackenzie Blackwood on a highlight reel, but was unable to sneak the puck past the posts. As the puck rested in the crease, Warren Foegele took a whack at the open net, only to be denied by the skate of Devon Toews.
Don't worry, we didn't forget about this play from Devon #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/h1MhTTCAYt— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 28, 2025
While gliding through, Foegele barreled over Blackwood, which sent the Avs to the man advantage. On the powerplay, Necas would rocket home his second goal of the contest, lasering a Makar feed into the back of the net to stretch the lead to 3-0.
He was ready for that #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/bN69IG2dPL— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 28, 2025
The Avs took that 3-0 lead into the dressing room, doing so on only 5 shots on goal in the middle frame. While this was not necessarily the effort thus far from the Avalanche we’re accustomed to, these opportunistic periods are necessary for postseason success, and it’s encouraging to see this out of the Avalanche.
Third Period:
The third period was a very fundamental shut-it-down period for the Avs, as they were content to just sit on their lead. There was not much of an attempt to establish zone time, especially early in the final frame, but LA was struggling to generate much with the space the Avs were giving them.
In the middle of the period, MacKinnon was tripped up while going for a skate in the offensive zone, and sent the Avs to a garbage time powerplay.
Head Coach Jared Bednar sent the second unit out, but the group was unable to find a goal. Moments after the top unit stepped on the ice, Necas found MacKinnon in the zone, MacKinnon zipped the puck back across the ice to Jonathan Drouin, who shot the puck on the powerplay this time around. It was a rocket that Rittich could not catch up to, putting a stamp on the 4-0 Avs victory.
2️⃣9️⃣ to 2️⃣7️⃣ doesn't get old #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/K8EYMkeRpM— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 28, 2025
Key Takeaways:
This Avalanche team was rejuvenated by the moves made by Chris MacFarland. Now 24 games removed from the Mikko Rantanen trade, the Avs are 17-6-1, can roll four forward lines confidently, and look like a serious favorite for the Stanley Cup once again. You’d be hard-pressed to find a weakness in this group at their best.
Martin Necas continues to shine following the Rantanen trade that rooted him from Carolina. Following his two goal, three point performance tonight, he has 10 goals and 25 points in the burgundy and blue. In my mind, he was Colorado’s best skater tonight. The Marty Party has been a fun ride so far!
Mackenzie Blackwood posted his fourth shutout of the season tonight, and now has three shutouts since joining the Avalanche following the December goalie swap with the San Jose Sharks. This comes as his first shutout since posting consecutive shutouts from Jan. 31 — Feb. 2 against the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers, and all three of his Avalanche shutouts have come on home ice.
Next Matchup:
The Avalanche (46-25-3) will look to keep humming along on home ice as they welcome in the St. Louis Blues (39-28-7) for the third of four matchups between the two clubs this season. The Blues are currently on a massive eight winning streak that has revived their playoff hopes, so this should be a heated matchup between two bitter rivals.
Puck drop is set for 2:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, March 29th. ...
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