Avalanche at Kings
The Los Angeles Kings attempt to reclaim third place in the Pacific Division on Monday as they begin a season-ending three-game homestand against the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings fell out of the spot on Sunday as Anaheim moved one point ahead of them with an overtime victory over Colorado.
Los Angeles has been idle since dropping a 2-1 overtime decision in Anaheim on Friday but has earned points in six of its last seven games (4-1-2). Defenseman Drew Doughty scored in the setback to become the eighth member of the team to reach double digits in goals this season and get within one point of matching the career high of 59 he set in 2009-10. Despite losing for the third time in four games on Sunday, the Avalanche moved one point ahead of idle St. Louis for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Tyson Jost scored twice to give him three goals in his last two games for Colorado, which continues its three-game road trip Monday before ending the season against the Blues at home on Saturday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, Sportsnet One, Altitude (Colorado), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (42-28-9): Nathan MacKinnon notched an assist on Sunday for his 300th NHL point. The 22-year-old center leads the team in scoring and needs six points over his final three games to reach the century mark for the first time in his career. Semyon Varlamov will have to wait until next season to appear in his 400th NHL contest as he will remain one shy after being declared out for the rest of the regular campaign due to a left knee injury.
ABOUT THE KINGS (43-28-8): Los Angeles could be without Alex Iafallo as the rookie center was a late scratch on Friday due to an upper-body injury. Captain Anze Kopitar notched an assist against the Ducks to become the eighth King to record 90 points in a season and first since Wayne Gretzky, who registered 130 in 1993-94. The 30-year-old Slovenian has collected four points during a three-game streak and hasn't been kept off the scoresheet in consecutive contests since a three-game drought from Dec. 23-30.
OVERTIME
1. Kings C Jeff Carter recorded five goals and two assists during a four-game point streak before being blanked by Anaheim.
2. Colorado C Alexander Kerfoot scored on Sunday after tallying in just one of his previous 20 games.
3. Los Angeles signed F Sheldon Rempal to a two-year, entry-level contract.