Despite the L.A. Kings' recent slump, the Avalanche know they are facing a good team.
Despite the L.A. Kings' recent slump, the Avalanche know they are facing a good team.
Colorado and Los Angeles face off for the final time this season and the first time at Ball Arena. The Avalanche beat the Kings 5-2 in the season opener at Crypto.com Arena on Oct. 11 but then lost 4-1 back in their building on Dec. 3.
Head coach Jared Bednar said there are some things the team can use from its last game against the Kings coming into tonight's contest.
"Mainly how disciplined we were with the puck and not trying to create something out of nothing and give them opportunities because they're really disciplined in the way that they check," Bednar said. "But certainly tonight, we're rested. We're at home. We're feeling pretty good about our attack here recently. And got to get up and on our toes and force these guys to check us you know, it's part of it."
L.A. is 2-5-3 in their last 10 games but have a better win record on the road. The Avs have only lost five at home so they have the advantage in this matchup.
"They're a really good team and I think they're struggling a bit now. But you know, every team goes through some ups and downs throughout the year so it doesn't change that they're a good team. We're gonna have to be prepared — play a full 60 minutes to win tonight.
"L.A. plays a stingy game — they're tight in the neutral zone and don't give up many odd man rushes. So it's going to be a good challenge for us," Bowen Byram said.
Both teams are hoping to go into the All-Star Break with a win so it should be a highly intense game.
"It's gonna be hard working team tonight. Obviously they're not you know, playing or getting the results they're supposed to get but watch video they're playing good hockey and just not finding ways to win," Jonathan Drouin said. "It's the last game before their break so you want to have a good one. We have almost 10, 12 days to kind of dwell on something you want to dwell on a win at least and move that past. And like I said, they're gonna be working hard to get that win and get out of that slump."
The Avalanche won their last game 6-2 against the Washington Capitals with the return of Artturi Lehkonen from a two and a half month injury recovery. The only change for this matchup will be Jack Johnson back in the lineup.
"From what we've seen, they're playing a lot better than what their latest records been showing," Cale Makar said. "So for us it's just going to be the same game plan, obviously we want to be on top of them and make sure we can neutralize all their threats going in tonight."
Projected lineup
Jonathan Drouin — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Miles Wood — Ross Colton — Logan O’Connor
Artturi Lehkonen — Ryan Johansen — Andrew Cogliano
Kurtis MacDermid — Fredrik Olofsson — Joel Kiviranta
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Bowen Byram — Jack Johnson
Alexandar Georgiev
Ivan Prosvetov
Puck drops at 7 p.m. MT.
Recent Avalanche articles
Avalanche superstars power team to victory
'I'm sure it's going to come quickly for him,' Avs coach confident Lehkonen will fit back in lineup
Avalanche forward earns 1st career hat trick in 7-4 win over Flyers