Kings at Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche look to rebound from a recent misstep when they take their game outdoors against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday in the 2020 NHL Stadium Series at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Avalanche had won five in a row and eight of nine before dropping a 3-2 decision to Washington on Thursday.
Nathan MacKinnon set up a pair of goals against the Capitals and carries a six-game point streak (two goals, six assists) into the match on Saturday, when he joins captain Gabriel Landeskog and defenseman Erik Johnson in playing their second NHL outdoor game while wearing a Colorado sweater. "It was awesome, so much fun," Landeskog said of the Avalanche's 5-3 loss to Detroit at Coors Field in Denver on Feb. 27, 2016. "The whole city and the whole state of Colorado really rallied around it, so the support was amazing. To play outdoors was so much fun." Los Angeles hasn't been having much fun regardless of where it has played, as the club had dropped nine of 10 (1-8-1) before posting a 5-3 victory over Calgary on Wednesday. The Kings will be playing in their third regular-season outdoor game after losing at Dodger Stadium in 2014 and winning at Levi's Stadium the following year.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports, TVAS2, Sportsnet 360
ABOUT THE KINGS (20-33-5): Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez could be the next player to exit through the revolving door as the NHL trade deadline draws near (Feb. 24). "At the end of the day, there's no other way to say it. It (stinks). But that's the nature of our business," the two-time Stanley Cup champion said. "You work your whole life to reach the pinnacle of your particular industry or career, and really at the end of the day, there's not much certainty." Franchise goaltender Jonathan Quick, who could also be moved if the price is right, has dropped his last eight starts (0-7-1).
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (33-17-6): Mikko Rantanen has scored in consecutive contests for the second time this month to reside one goal shy of 100 for his career. The 23-year-old Finn matched MacKinnon by collecting two goals and three assists in three meetings with Los Angeles last season, with Colorado scoring a staggering 16 times to post a 2-0-1 mark in the series. Landeskog, who had four points (one goal, three assists) against the Kings last season, recorded nine (five goals, four assists) in his last dozen games overall.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles C Jeff Carter has scored three times in his last five games to match captain Anze Kopitar for the team lead in goals with 17.
2. Colorado LW Andre Burakovsky has recorded five of his career-best 18 goals this season in his last nine contests.
3. Kings RW Dustin Brown, who scored in overtime against the Avalanche last season, has just one point in six games this month.