Avalanche fail to capitalize on chances in close loss to Kings

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

The Colorado Avalanche aren’t very good and in a lost season with almost nothing left to play for, inspired efforts are few and far between. Taking on the Los Angeles Kings tonight provided an opportunity for the Avs to go up against one of the league’s top shot-generating squads but one that has struggled recently to find the back of the net, something Colorado certainly can relate to.

The first period was largely dominated by the Kings despite two Avalanche power plays but neither side was able to break through on the scoresheet and LA took it’s 12-5 shot advantage into the first intermission feeling pretty good about itself.

The second period started with plenty of fireworks as Avalanche rookie sensation Mikko Rantanen broke in and stripped Drew Doughty of the puck en route to easily beating Peter Budaj with a rocket of a shot to put Colorado up 1-0 just 32 seconds in. The play seemed to kickstart Rantanen for the rest of the period, who began firing pucks every time they touched his stick.

Despite the surge in confidence and the early lead, the Kings responded how veteran teams with Stanley Cup-winning pedigree usually do – getting it back. Doughty redeemed himself by kickstarting a play that saw Adrian Kempe find Tyler Toffoli for the tying goal less than three minutes after Rantanen’s goal and just like that it was tied.

The Avalanche responded to the goal with a surge of pressure and dominant offensive zone play. The tempo increase didn’t result in what the Avalanche were looking for, however, when Trevor Lewis broke down the right side of the ice, walked by a helpless Tyson Barrie, and beat Calvin Pickard with a nice move to make it 2-1, Los Angeles.

The Avalanche had several opportunities to tie the game as Nathan MacKinnon just missed on a mini-breakaway and Gabriel Landeskog and John Mitchell each hit posts behind Budaj. The blown chances allowed the Kings to take their one-goal lead into the third period.

A scoreless third period saw the Avalanche push back but much like their game against the Lightning two days ago, there was no joy in Mudville at the end of this one as they lost by a final of 2-1.

THREE STARS

1. Trevor Lewis
2. Peter Budaj
3. Calvin Pickard

PLAY OF THE GAME

Rantanen’s stripping of Doughty and subsequent goal was a thing of beauty. To make a play like that against last year’s Norris Trophy winner and then to finish it off with a world-class shot was just one more example of the incredible talent Rantanen possesses and is just beginning to tap into on a regular basis.

TURNING POINT

Colorado’s failed power play halfway through the third period was a golden opportunity to tie the game up but the second power play unit was on the ice basically the entire time and wasn’t able to generate enough offense to tie it up.

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado hits the road for a one-game trip as they take on the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.