The Los Angeles Kings continue to control the series against the Colorado Avalanche. Last year, the Kings went 4-0 against Colorado -- including a 5-0 pummeling in late December that started Colorado's second half free fall. Tonight was no different, as Los Angeles skated to a dominating 6-0 performance in the final preseason game of the year at Pepsi Center.
This Kings team is expected to dominate, as their offseason trade for Mike Richards and offseason signing of forwards like Simon Gagne have boosted them into elite team status. They looked like it against a Colorado team that was skating many of their bottom tier forwards and defensemen for much of the game.
Kings forward Anze Kopitar was the star of the game, scoring three goals. Two of those goals were assisted by defenseman Jack Johnson on the power play. Goalie Jonathan Quick pitched an easy shutout with little pressure, facing 27 shots from Colorado but few quality chances.
Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov had a rough night in net, as he allowed six goals on just 31 shots. His defensive corps played well in the first period, as both teams were playing a puck clearing game. But the Kings took over in the second when poor penalties by Ryan Wilson and T.J. Galiardi led directly to two quick Kings goals.
The game went downhill fast in that second period, as the Avalanche tried outhitting the Kings instead of outplaying them to the puck. This Kings team is loaded, deep, and without a glaring weakness, and it shows even during the preseason.
Colorado heads on the road to play the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, September 29 before closing out the preseason with a game against these very Kings in Las Vegas on October 1.
The Avalanche fall to 1-3 in the preseason.