Kings: 2022-23

Los Angeles Kings cling to early lead, beat Avalanche in Colorado second straight time

Story by Bennett Durando, The Denver Post • Yesterday 8:41 PM

Playoff contenders are getting in the Avalanche’s way as the home stretch arrives.

For the second time on home ice this season, the Avs sputtered against the Los Angeles Kings, losing 5-2 after twice coming close to climbing out of two-goal deficits.

Los Angeles scored twice to double the lead in the third period before clinching the win with a late empty-netter. Colorado (35-22-6) has lost four of the last five, all to opponents in the NHL playoff picture.

“We should have approached this like a playoff game tonight,” Cale Makar said. “Felt like we knew the type of team they are. … We know that they’re so systematically sound that it tends to frustrate teams when they sit back and don’t allow you to get in their zone.”

Coach Jared Bednar thought Colorado didn’t play poorly. Nathan MacKinnon described it as “a weird game” in which the Kings simply scored off every Avalanche mistake. So what was the disconnect?

“There’s another level of determination and passion that we can play with,” Bednar repeated, “if we want to win against the good teams.”

The Avalanche excelled on one side of the special teams coin Thursday, but they left a lot to be desired on the other side. After holding Los Angeles to 0-for-4 on the power play, they’ve now killed 16 consecutive penalties and 38 of the last 42 (91%). Sam Girard made a remarkable play to prevent a high-danger scoring chance in the second period, stretching his stick to intercept a pass then clearing the zone. During a first-period kill, Alexandar Georgiev made an exceptional bail-out save on a shot from point blank.

The man advantage was an eye sore until the third, though. The Kings clogged every passing lane and suffocated Colorado on the blue line with a 1-2-1 setup. On two second-period power plays, the Avalanche’s top unit alone failed to set up in the offensive zone seven different times, forced to reset for a new zone-entry every 15 seconds. Between those two opportunities, Colorado totaled one shot on goal. Los Angeles registered two. It was a penalty-killing clinic.

“Whether it was just us trying to make more challenging plays and trying to slip in there, trying to take it in with one hand, they were doing a good job collapsing,” Makar said. “It was just something we had to adjust to. Unfortunately we didn’t do it in the moment.”

“It’s deflating, because you feel like you’re right there,” Bednar said. “And you know they’re a difficult team to score against.”

He described the Avalanche as “stubborn” with the puck at the blue line during those chances. The adjustment needed was to dump the puck into the zone and win a battle, Bednar said.

When they did that, the third try was the charm. Once the Avs finally managed to settle in the zone, they took advantage with a snipe from Nathan MacKinnon. It was 3-2 with 15:36 remaining. But the power play only provided life for 15 seconds before Phillip Danault scored from deep.

The problems that beset the Avalanche were the opposite of what hounded them during their recent three-game winless streak. During that stretch, Bednar was displeased with Colorado’s defensive coverage, even in a tighter 3-2 loss to Seattle. (That’s to say nothing of the consecutive seven-goal games that preceded it.)

This loss was more about what the Avs couldn’t create for themselves, rather than what they conceded. The top line struggled to generate chances. When someone provided a net-front presence, throwing pucks on net often proved rewarding. Evan Rodrigues screened Joonas Korpisalo and deflected a Sam Girard shot to get Colorado on the scoreboard. Artturi Lehkonen took away Korpisalo’s vision on MacKinnon’s goal.

“They made it harder on us in the net-front areas and the scoring areas,” Bednar said. “To be able to create.”

The Avalanche didn’t allow a shot on goal in the first eight minutes for a second consecutive game, but this time, the first shot was more than a shot. Los Angeles converted a 2-on-1, then Gabriel Vilardi uncorked a wicked shot from a tight angle to establish the two-goal lead by first intermission.

So the NHL is the first (and likely ONLY) major sporting league to finally say enough is enough and is considering the cancellation of all Pride nights and related events.

GOOD FOR FUCKING THEM!!!

It is absurd to have a “special” night for a specific group of people that a good deal of the nation and paying patrons find objectionable.

Now if only the NFL, NBA and MLB would get on board. They won’t - there’s simply too much pressure from the PC crowd and money involved.

Just like the weekly end zones, side lines and helmet tags promoted by a BLM program that is just as corrupt as the current administration.

We get it - racism bad! But like Morgan Freeman said - you want to get rid of racism? STOP bringing it up every chance you get or conversation you have.

I’m paraphrasing of course - but that is pretty much his feeling on it. Imagine - a black actor making such a statement in today’s society.

But he’s 100% right. And we don’t need to be reminded week after week by the NFL or anyone else how we should feel and what we should do.

Racism has been around since the beginning of time and it’s NEVER going to completely disappear. But it cannot be controlled or dissipated by a few catchy slogans, either.

GO DODGERS!!!

Somewhere along the line there has to be limit as to just what is and isn’t acceptable and / or objectionable.

The players themselves are being forced to wear special jerseys on these “special” nights that conflict with their own personal beliefs.

What the Alphabet Club does in their own privacy is no one’s business but their own.

But when they DEMAND to be recognized and continue to push their lifestyle choices onto others, that’s where I have a problem.

The drag shows in front of young children; the brainwashing of “experts” advising a three or four year old has the capacity to KNOW if they are male or female, regardless of their genitalia; the list goes on.

Would I ever attend a “gay” event? Probably not - although I did see Britney Spears in Vegas a number of years ago and was probably one of the only hetero males there.

Come to think of it - I have another concert in June to see Debbie Gibson and I know she’s HUGE with that crowd.

But seriously - I wouldn’t attend a Pride night or Gay Day at Kings Island simply because I personally don’t believe in that lifestyle choice myself and I don’t think I could or would be comfortable surrounded by those who do.

Does that make me homophobic? Perhaps a little. But I have to wonder just what is next and how far this nation is prepared to go.

Are S & M, Pedophilia and Beastiality Nights very far behind? These are all groups that believe in THEIR causes and “lifestyle choices”.

And if you believe the rumors of Epstein Island, there’s more than a few well know politicians and Hollyweirdos that find these practices not only acceptable, but enjoyable.

GO DODGERS!!!

Right there with you. There were a number of gays that worked at the O’Charley’s we used to go to just about every Friday or Saturday night for several years.

We even hung and went out with them to other bars after the OC closed on a number of occasions and countless parties at their and others homes.

Rick could be a bit of a drama queen from time to time, but that was just his personality and we all accepted it as such.

But damn - you ARE right. The ones I know certainly have problems with the white powder and I don’t ever remember being anywhere with him or others when they weren’t doing lines, even in the OC men’s room.

GO DODGERS!!!