US EditionKings Can’t Keep up with League-Leading Avalanche
The Kings allow just 1.76 goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, ranking as the NHL's stingiest defense with Kopitar central in his final season.
- On Monday, the Los Angeles Kings arrive at Ball Arena, allowing the NHL's second-fewest goals this season during Anze Kopitar's final NHL campaign.
- At the core, Los Angeles suppresses chances with structured 5-on-5 defense, allowing 1.76 goals per 60 and ranking fourth in scoring chances against due to tight defensive-zone coverage.
- Backing that structure, elite goaltending steadies the team as the Kings, led by ex-Avs netminder Darcy Kuemper, rank third in team save percentage with Kuemper tied for fifth at.917.
- Now the high-powered Avalanche face a tougher one, as Bednar's team, allowing the fewest goals—11 fewer than the Kings—has the league's top penalty kill and a 1.93 goals-per-60 rate.
- Kopitar's career totals and a possible final Denver appearance heighten the matchup as he is two points shy of 1,300 and 13 games from 1,500 points.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Jack Drury, Martin Nečas, Brock Nelson, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar scored for the league and Western Conference-leading Colorado team.
Associated Press News
MacKinnon scores 399th career goal as surging Avalanche beat Kings 5-2
Nathan MacKinnon scored the 399th goal of his career, Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist, and the surging Colorado Avalanche won their eighth in a row, 5-2 over the Los Angeles Kings.
Denver Post
Reporter HeraldAnze Kopitar, Kings bring ‘stingiest defensive team’ to give red-hot Avs a new challenge
The Vegas Golden Knights provided a stiff challenge for the Colorado Avalanche offense two nights ago, at least for two periods. Now the high-powered Avs face a tougher one. The Los Angeles Kings are at Ball Arena on Monday night, and they have allowed the second-fewest goals in the NHL this season. “You’re looking at the stingiest defensive team in the league. It’s that simple,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s very difficult to create scorin…
Game Preview: Two Top Defenses Go Head-to-Head in Denver
Ball Arena will be the host to a matchup of the NHL’s top two defensive teams on Monday. The Avalanche are tops in the league in that regard, as well as being the best of the bunch in total offense. Colorado has surrendered just 81 goals in 37 games thus far. Meanwhile, the visiting Los Angeles Kings are the only other team with fewer than 100 goals against, as they’ve allowed 92. READ MORE: Avalanche Game 38 vs Los Angeles Kings: Lines, Notes &…
Eleven games will be scheduled in the NHL on Tuesday night. Among them, the Los Angeles Kings with Anžet Kopitar, who are currently seventh in the Western Conference, will be at work, and on Tuesday night they will visit the league's best team, the Colorado Avalanche.
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