The Colorado Avalanche (19-12-2), one of the NHL’s top power play offenses, welcome the Los Angeles Kings (20-12-6) and their weak penalty killing defense at Ball Arena on Thursday. Los Angeles is coming off a 4-2 win over the Golden Knights on Tuesday.
The Kings conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own limited power play opportunities. Four players found the net for the Kings. Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson both scored and provided two assists to lead the team in scoring.
Pheonix Copley had 23 saves in the win. Colorado fell 6-3 to the Coyotes on Tuesday. Cale Makar, Evan Rodrigues, and Mikko Rantanen scored one apiece for the Avalanche.
Makar added an assist to share the scoring lead with J.T. Compher, who had two assists. Alexandar Georgiev only had 27 saves on 32 shots against (.843%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Avalanche won all three games between the teams last season, including a 9-3 victory in their final meeting in April, their ninth straight win against Los Angeles.
Nathan MacKinnon led Colorado with five points (3G 2A). Jordan Spence led Los Angeles with two points (0G 2A). Darcy Kuemper got the win, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906%).
FACING OFF
Los Angeles is averaging 3.21 goals per game for the season, 14th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.70 goals a game (7th). Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 2.91 times a game on average, 25th in the league, and the Kings are allowing opponents to score 3.39 goals per game (22nd).
The Avalanche will be looking to add to their fifth-ranked power play percentage of 27.27% against the Kings, who are the league’s fifth-weakest penalty killing team (71.64%).
Los Angeles, meanwhile, has scored on 22.56% of their power play opportunities (16th), which the visitors will be aiming to improve on against Colorado’s 22nd-ranked 75.96% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 35 points this season, Kevin Fiala is the top skater for the Kings. He has 10 goals and 25 assists in 38 games. In the net, Jonathan Quick (8-8-4) is Los Angeles’ top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.41 GAA and a .885% save percentage.
Rantanen leads the Avalanche in scoring with 43 points (10th in the league). He has 24 goals (6th in the league) and 19 assists in 33 games. Georgiev (15-6-2) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.36. He has a save percentage of .925%.
HOME AND AWAY
Los Angeles is 9-7-4 away from home this season. Colorado has won three in a row at Ball Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche (-155)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
