Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche Tonight!
Tuesday night the Los Angeles Kings will be in Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche. Puck-drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PST at the Pepsi Center.
In their previous meeting on February 18th of this season, the Kings beat Colorado 4-1 in Denver. It’s the second of three meeting between the two teams this year. The Kings will host the Avalanche on Saturday, April 4th.
The Kings enter tonight’s game on a one-game losing streak, losing 1-0 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Avalanche are currently on a three-game win streak. Winning one at home and two on the road Colorado has defeated the Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild in consecutive games.
Los Angeles Kings
Based on yesterday’s line-rushes posted by L.A. Kings Insider Jon Rosen the Kings are changing things up a bit. L.A.’s lineup is expected to be:
Forwards:
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Dwight King
Trevor Lewis – Jeff Carter – Tyler Toffoli
Jordan Nolan – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Kyle Clifford – Nick Shore – Dustin Brown
Defensemen:
Robyn Regehr – Drew Doughty
Jake Muzzin – Matt Greene
Brayden McNabb – Andrej Sekera
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones
One player in the lineup will be in the same spot – Jonathan Quick will be between the pipes. Quick is likely to get the start. The Kings will try to ride the star goaltender into the playoffs. Quick has a .913 save percentage and a 2.37 goals against average.
It looks like head coach Darryl Sutter is trying to even out the each of his four lines. Positioning the players as above, each line will be balanced with a heavy hitter, a scorer and a playmaker. We’ll see how it works.
Perhaps Trevor Lewis and Dwight King should switch jersey numbers. Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and King were starting their own new “That 70’s Line” scoring streak. Hopefully Lewis will help the Kings second line to continue their dominance.
Avalanche players to keep an eye on:
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Mile High Sticking
Jarome Iginla leads the Colorado Avalanche in points and goals. Iginla is 37-year-young and still dominant enough to lead the young, star-studded Avalanche team.
Iginla has been on a tear recently, scoring 4 points in his last 3 games. Iginla has 2 goals and 2 assists in that time. In his last 10 games Iginla has 8 points: 3 goals, 5 assists.
Iginla is a hockey players hockey player. He’s great with the puck, he always skates hard, he hits, he fights, he scores. Every time he laces up his skates Iginla comes to play. He won’t be taking it easy on the Kings tonight. L.A. needs to make sure they are away when Iginla is on the ice, or they’ll be sorry.
Tyson Barrie is a defensemen and he’s 3rd on the Avalanche in points. Barrie leads the team in assists, with 33. Barrie also has 10 goals, 2nd among defensmen on the team.
Barrie isn’t a big defensemen, but he’s mobile and good with the puck. Barrie is a key part of Colorado’s ability to break out of the zone and get up ice. Keep an eye on the way Barrie plays.
One other thing to note: the Avalanche will start goaltender Calvin Pickard in place of injured starter Semyon Varlamov. Varlamov injured his groin in Colorado’s most recent win against the Wild.
Pickard is 6-6-3 in 12 starts and 15 appearances. Pickard has a goals against average of 2.18 and a .936 save percentage, which is the best among Colorado goaltenders.
The Avalanche are the West’s version of the Philadelphia Flyers. They try to play a run-n-gun style of hockey. In the physical, defensive West it hasn’t worked out. L.A. needs the win and Colorado would love nothing more than to spoil the Kings push to the playoffs.
Go Kings Go!
Feb 18, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of the Pepsi Center during the first period between the Los Angeles Kings against the Colorado Avalanche. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports