2018-19 Regular Season Game 40 LA Kings Vs Colorado Avalanche

Good Evening Kings Fans! Tonight marks the final game of 2018 for your LA Kings, as the team embarks on a two game back to back road trip. Tonight your Kings are in the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado to take on the Avalanche. Kings forward Michael Amadio and goalie Cal Petersen  will not be with team on this two game road trip as the Kings have sent them down to the AHL. Jack Campbell and Dion Phaneuf will be making their return to the Kings lineup tonight. Here’s what Kings defenseman Sean Walker had to say about his devolpment with the Kings “ You know, I think definitely getting out there with Muzz, he’s an amazing player and he’s easy to play with, so we go out there and we both think the same things and we both want to get up the ice, so if I’m going, he’s covering for me and if he’s going, I’m covering for him, so we both have the same mindset”.

Kings record before either game
(15-21-3)

Avalanche record before the game
(19-13-7)

Tonight's starting lineup for your LA Kings

Alex Iafallo-Anze Kopitar-Dustin Brown

Adrian Kempe-Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli

Ilya Kovalchuk-Nate Thompson-Brendan Leipsic  

Kyle Clifford-Austin Wagner-Matt Luff

Defense Pairings

Derek Forbort-Drew Doughty

Jake Muzzin-Sean Walker

Dion Phaneuf-Oscar Fantenberg

Tonight's starting goalie for your LA Kings is Jonathan Quick (backup goalie is Jack Campbell)

Scratches for tonight's game: Nikita Scherbak Paul LaDue

Players on the injury reserve: Jonny Brodzinski (shoulder injury) Trevor Lewis (foot injury) Carl Hagelin (leg injury) Alec Martinez (upper body injury)

There were no goals in the 1st period of play.

1st period analysis

Kings getting good shots early on in the period. Avalanche putting pressure on the Kings early on as well as Jonathan Quick had to make some good saves as he was scrambling out of the net to make the saves, Drew Doughty made a nice hit in the open ice. The Avs were maintaining more pressure as a shot from the top gets deflected and Jonathan Quick makes a nice save. Anze Kopitar as he had a nice toe drag and rang the puck off the post, moments later Kopitar had the puck and hit the post again. Kings are playing good defense in their own zone. Kings are getting lots of good chances this period. Kyle Clifford is giving a double minor for Hi Sticking. Drew Doughty made a nice play by breaking up a pass in the Kings zone. Jonathan Quick makes a nice diving save on Gabriel Landeskog.

Kings penalty to Kyle Clifford 4 minute double minor for Hi-Sticking. Time of the penalty 10:52 in the 1st period.

Avalanche penalty to Tyson Barrie 2 minute minor for Tripping. Time of the penalty 19:57 in the 1st period.

22 seconds into the 2nd period the Kings scored to take a 1-0 lead. The goal was scored by number 8 Drew Doughty, the goal was his (1st of the game and 3rd of the season). Then at 12:58 the Kings made it 2-0. The goal was scored by number 61 Sean Walker, the goal was his first ever 

NHL goal.

2nd period analysis

Kings get a goal early on in the period and the Kings are putting lots of pressure in the Avalanche. Tyler Toffoli took a tripping penalty early in the period as well. The Kings kill of the penalty and Jonathan Quick has been making amazing saves throughout the game. Jeff Carter takes another penalty for the Kings. Kings are playing good defense on the penalty kill. Kings getting a lot of chances in front of the net but end up getting a power play due to an Avalanche player taking a delay of game penalty. Anze Kopitar feeds Sean Walker the puck and stuffs home the wraparound to get his first career NHL goal.

Kings penalty to Tyler Toffoli 2 minute minor for Tripping. Time of the penalty 1:34 in the 2nd period.

Kings penalty to Jeff Carter 2 minute minor for Slashing. Time of the penalty 5:02 in the 2nd period.

Avalanche penalty to Carl Soderberg 2 minute minor for delay of game (puck over glass). Time of the penalty 8:15 in the 2nd period.

32 seconds the Avs cut the Kings lead in half by a score of 1-2. The goal was scored by number 29 Nathan MacKinnon, the goal was his (1st goal of the game and 24th of the season). Then at 18:10 the Avs tied the game at 2-2. The goal was scored by number 4 Tyson Barrie, the goal was his (1st of the game and 5th of the season).

3rd period analysis

The Avs get a goal back seconds into the third period. The Kings offense has done a great job tonight. Jonathan Quick has been playing great and making good saves as well. The Kings have been playing a good solid game. The Avalanche scored to tie the game late.

Avalanche penalty to J.T. Compher 2 minute minor for Goalie Interference. Time of the penalty 57 seconds into the 3rd period.

54 seconds into overtime the Kings scored to win the game 3-2! The goal was scored by number 23 Dustin Brown, the goal was his (1st of the game 11th of the season).

Kings record after the game

(16-21-3)

Avalanche record after the game

(19-13-8)

Kings shots on goal 18

Avalanche shots on goal 24

Kings power play 1 for 3

Avalanche power play 0 for 4

Kings faceoff percentage 48%

Avalanche faceoff percentage 53%

Kings hit total 24

Avalanche hit total 20

Kings blocked shots total 20

Avalanche blocked shots total 8

Post game notes-

Sean Walker scored his first NHL goal

The Kings are (1-1-0) against the Avalanche this season so far