Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles Kings (45-24-9) go up against the Colorado Avalanche (48-28-4) at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, April 12. 

This match proves to be another test for the LA Kings as the Stanley Cup playoffs, while the Kings steadily attempt to tread new waters as they look to add another win to their best franchise home record books.

FIRST PERIOD

The first period begins with the Avalanche winning the faceoff against Kings center Anze Kopitar, and some good shots are attempted by Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko. Colorado battle for control of the hockey puck throughout the former half of the first period. 

LA RIGHT WING QUINTON BYFIELD CONNECTS TO THE COLORADO NET, WITH THE ASSIST BY KUZMENKO TO STRIKE FIRST BLOOD! 1-0

THIS GOAL IS HIS 22TH GOAL, AND THE MOST EVER IN ONE SEASON IN HIS CAREER

HOLD ON. 

Wait, now the Avalanche are challenging the play now because they are arguing over Kuzmenko not having control of the puck when he was going to shoot the shot towards Byfield

CALL STANDS. Now the Kings get a power play, because the Avalanche delayed the game on a bad challenge.

There's yet another penalty by Colorado because Colorado right wing Valeri Nichushkin tripped LA King left wing Warren Foegele, and now the Kings have a 2 man advantage on the hockey rink.

NOW THEY'VE GOTTEN INTO THE GAME NOW WITH A POWER PLAY GOAL BY KEVIN FIALA, WITH KUZMENKO AND BYFIELD AIDING! 2-0

This outcome is a farcry from the 4-0 embarrassment the Avalanche inflicted onto the Kings the last time they played in Colorado. The tables have turned this time around.

Kings have now given up their first penalty with a delay of game by Los Angeles defenseman Kyle Burroughs, so now the Avalanche have their first power play opportunity this game. 

Kings right wing Trevor Moore just got a penalty for high sticking one of the Avalanche players, and now they have a two-man advantage in this power play.

Avalanche have made this game a one-goal game with a shot by Colorado center Brock Nelson, 2-1.

Both teams have been sloppy about giving up penalties throughout this first period. 

Los Angeles maintain possession of the puck, but with the Avalanche at full strength the Kings face an uphill battle with Colorado's defensive prowess. 

Now Burroughs have given up his second penalty with a hooking call, which grants the Avalanche their third power play this period alone. The Kings hold their ground, not allowing Colorado a chance for a shot at their hockey net. 

The first period comes to a close, with lots of noise made by both teams offensively and defensively, though the Kings come out on top, 2-1.

SECOND PERIOD

The second period begins with the Avalanche winning the face off yet again, but the Kings rebound with aggression towards the Colorado net. 

Not only have the Avalanche been winning their faceoffs, but they have also matched the Kings' aggression in their puck play.

The Avalanche even the score with a goal by Nichushkin, 2-2.

The Kings are playing catch up with the Avalanche's numbers on one King player, as well as matching the fast pace the Avalanche are putting up against them, despite them missing some of their best players. 

The Kings catch a break with a delay of game penalty called on the Avalanche's defenseman Sam Malinksi.

The Avalanche have locked in with their defense during this period, when the Kings tried to set up a play against them. Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. They have successfully avoided the Kings' power play onslaught, and burned time off the clock. 

KINGS WAKE UP WITH A GOAL BY RIGHT WING ALEX LAFERRIERE, WITH THE ASSIST BY BYFIELD AND DEFENSEMAN BRANDON CLARK, 3-2

With his 18th goal scored this season, LaFerriere has gotten hotter and clutch for Los Angeles as the playoffs near. 

AS THE PERIOD KEEPS GOING, ANZE KOPITAR KEEPS THIS SCORING DRIVE GOING WITH A NICE SET UP BY RIGHT WING ADRIAN KEMPE AND DEFENSEMAN MIKEY ANDERSON, 4-0

With this goal, Kopitar is only second to Marcel Dionne in terms of points throughout Kings history with 1,276 points to Dionne's 1,307. 

Despite a tense pressure applied by the Avalanche, the Kings' momentum has shifted back in their favor as they head to the third period, 4-2. 

THIRD PERIOD

The third and final period of the game starts off with the Avalanche winning the faceoff once more, and the Avalanche speed their pace up to make more attempts on the LA net. 

Both teams are playing clean hockey, simply trying to look for a good shot in each other's goals, with Colorado making desperate attempts to stay in the game with a two-goal deficit.

The Kings get another power play opportunity off of a holding penalty against Kempe by an Avalanche player.

Oh man, one of the referees got hit in the back of their right leg with a puck shot by one of the Avalanche players trying to keep the puck away from Los Angeles. 

The Kings have players making moves onto the Colorado net, but they were not able to capitalize. 

Despite their efforts, the Avalanche's Sam Malinksi scores for his team and inches Colorado closer to tying the game, as the latter half of the final period comes to a close, 4-3. 

WAIT A MINUTE, KEVIN FIALA STRIKES TWICE FOR THE KINGS WITH A WRIST SHOT TO EXTEND THEIR LEAD, 5-3

Noticably, the Kings have made more shots at the Colorado net, but despite that the Avalanche have made more scores with less shots. Kings have taken more risks, though which has paid off for them so far. 

Alright, now the Avalanche have gone to desperate measures to get goals onto the scoreboard, utilizing the empty net strategy to add another player to the zone. That effort so far has paid off, with a goal by Brock Nelson keeping the Avalanche in the game, 5-4. 

This match leaves nothing on the rink, because both teams try just about everything to get numbers onto the box score, and the Avalanche have kept their empty net strategy as the final minutes burn on the clock.

The Kings have burned more time off the clock, attempting to take advantage of the empty net, but they were unable to conect three times. 

KINGS WIN, THEY BURN TIME OFF THE CLOCK!

Their magic number is now down to two points for home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This game is also the seventh time in Kings history where a team has reached at least 100 points in the regular season. 

This win is also proof of concept that the Kings can beat some of the tougher competition such as the Colorado Avalanche, who admittedly went pound for pound with the Kings and remained competitive despite their weaker roster strength. Los Angeles also avoids the season sweep with the Avalanche with this victory.