Avalanche at Kings
THE STORY: If the Los Angeles Kings are to maintain their standing on top of the Pacific Division, they must improve on their NHL-worst 2.13 goals per game. There is a good chance of that happening when the Kings host the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. Los Angeles defeated Vancouver 4-1 on Saturday when Anze Kopitar scored for the first time in 18 games. If that wasn’t the spark Kopitar needed to get going, facing the Avalanche should light the fire as Kopitar has five goals and 14 points in his last 10 games against them. Colorado snapped a five-game losing streak against Los Angeles with a 3-2 victory on Oct. 30, but the Kings have four straight at home against the Avalanche. After losing nine straight on the road, though, the Avalanche have won two in a row, including a 4-2 victory at Anaheim on Saturday as they began life without Matt Duchene.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), FS West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (21-18-1): Duchene, who leads Colorado with 12 goals, is expected to miss four weeks with a knee injury. He had missed only three games in his first two seasons. Captain Milan Hejduk immediately stepped up with two goals against Anaheim to snap a 13-game drought. Right wing David Jones (seven goals) returned to the lineup Saturday after missing eight games with a groin injury. Colorado set a team record with nine victories in December, and has won seven of its last eight games.
ABOUT THE KINGS (19-14-6): Los Angeles is 4-0-2 since Darryl Sutter took over as coach, but has scored only 14 goals in the six games. The Kings have only two players – Mike Richards (13) and Kopitar (11) – who have scored more than 10, and will need players such as Simon Gagne (seven) and Dustin Penner (two) to stay healthy and score more. Los Angeles is solid in goal with Jonathan Quick (17-10-5, 2.05, .931), who leads the NHL with five shutouts. He had won seven straight against Colorado prior to the Oct. 30 loss.
OVERTIME:
1. Colorado wouldn’t mind if the game goes to a shootout. It is 6-0 this season and has won 17 of their last 18 in the bonus format.
2. Los Angeles has the No. 3 penalty killing unit and has killed 26 straight shorthanded situations; Colorado’s power play is No. 1 on the road and seventh overall.