Kings at Avalanche
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche have been two of the league's best road teams so far in the young season. That may give the Kings an advantage Sunday night as they visit the Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Los Angeles is coming off a thrilling 3-2 overtime loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday night, a result that moved the Kings to 3-0-2 away from the Staples Center. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has emerged as an early Vezina Trophy candidate, taking much of the pressure off a forward corps still looking to build chemistry. The Avalanche are trending in the opposite direction, especially at home. Having built a 6-1 record away from Denver, Colorado is still looking for its first home win after dropping the first three games there.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West, Altitude
ABOUT THE KINGS (6-2-2): Switching conferences - and time zones - doesn't seem to have affected newcomer Mike Richards that much, at least where the scoresheet is concerned. He's averaging a point per game through his first 10 contests as a King, leading the club in assists and looking as dangerous as ever on the power play, where he has generated half of his points to date. His career high in points is 80 set with Philadelphia in 2008-09; he should challenge that number this year.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (6-4-0): Gabriel Landeskog has shown the Colorado Avalanche plenty over the first 10 games of the season. Last time out, he proved he can take a hit. The 18-year-old was decked by Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton earlier this week with an elbow to the head that will certainly result in Sutton being suspended. Landeskog was down for a moment but went off the ice on his own power and stuck around to finish the game. He's expected to be in the lineup Sunday.
OVERTIME:
1. Landeskog has been a picture of calm during Colorado's home struggles. "We can't get too frustrated," he said. "We just have to stay patient and be prepared to battle on Sunday."
2. Los Angeles has dominated the head-to-head series of late, winning five consecutive games and eight of the last nine. The Kings outscored Colorado 19-8 in four games last season.