Game Preview: Avalanche vs Kings

COLORADO AVALANCHE (19-12-2) VS LOS ANGELES KINGS (20-12-6)
7 PM MT | BALL ARENAWATCH:ALTITUDELISTEN: 92.5FM/950 AM
The Colorado Avalanche (19-12-2) will take on the Los Angeles Kings (20-12-6) for the first of three matchups this season Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 7 P.M. MT inside of Ball Arena. The remaining matchups will be played on March 9 at Ball Arena and April 8 at Crypto.com Arena.

LAST TIME OUT

The Avalanche were defeated by the Arizona Coyotes 6-3 at Mullett Arena. Colorado center Evan Rodrigues scored his eighth goal of the season, while defenseman Cale Makar (8) and forward Mikko Rantanen (24) each added to their goal totals. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev stopped 27 of the 32 shots he faced.
The Kings took down the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in a Pacific Division showdown. Four different Kings scored - right wingers Gabriel Vilardi and Viktor Arvidsson, center Phillip Danault and left winger Alex Iafallo. Goaltender Pheonix Copley turned away 23 of the 25 shots he faced.

HISTORY

The Avalanche are 67-66-15 all-time against the Kings, which includes a 28-20-2 record at home since the franchise relocated to Denver.

SCOUTING THE KINGS

Offseason acquisition Kevin Fiala leads Los Angeles in points (35) and is tied for third on the team in goals with 10 with longtime King Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault and Viktor Arvidsson. Center Anze Kopitar is second on the team in points with 29.

LINEUP UPDATES

Avalanche
Bowen ByramUnknown
Shane BowersUpper body
Pavel FrancouzLower body
Darren Helm Lower body
Martin KautUpper body
Gabriel Landeskog Lower body
Nathan MacKinnonUpper body
Josh MansonLower body
Valeri NichushkinLower body
Kings
Arthur KaliyevUnknown
Trevor MooreUnknown

DOING THE MOST

Forward Mikko Rantanen leads Colorado in career points against Los Angeles, with 28 (10G/18A) in 22 games played. Center Nathan MacKinnon and forward Gabriel Landeskog are both tied for second in career points with 24 - each with nine goals and 15 assists.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Center Anze Kopitar is the team's clear leader against the Avs, with 53 points (18G/35A) in 58 career appearances. Defenseman Drew Doughty is the next closest with 29 points (8G/21A) in 48 contests.

NUMBERS GAME

20

Mikko Rantanen's goal last night was his 20th even-strength of the season, the best in the league.

30+

With Cale Makar's two point night on Tuesday, he cracked the 30 point mark for the fourth time in as many seasons. The only active defenseman with a longer stretch from the start of his NHL career is John Klingberg (8).

54

Makar also recorded his 54th multi-point outing since makin his regular-season debut in 2019-20, the third-most such performances over that span. Roman Josi and John Carlson each have 56).

QUOTE(S) THAT LEFT A MARK

"They were capitalizing on their chances and we weren't." - Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar on the team's 6-3 loss on Tuesday