The Los Angeles Kings and interim head coach DJ Smith fought hard on the ice and on the scoreboard in Game 1 of the opening-round matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs vs. the Colorado Avalanche this past weekend on Sunday afternoon (April 19). Coming into the postseason in the playoffs this spring this week, most pundits and people in the media figured that the Kings would be a pushover in the West in this series.
Artemi Panarin helped the Los Angeles Kings cut the Avs' lead in half on the scoreboard in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
But the Kings showed fight on the ice and pushed back on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period and in the final frame in clutch time vs. Colorado this past Sunday afternoon last weekend. The Kings and Smith and the coaching staff didn't get the outcome on the scoreboard that they wanted on Sunday afternoon in Colorado, but they did make a point on the ice in the West.
When the game starts tonight between the Kings and Avalanche on the ice in the opening frame in the first period, LA has a chance to even the series on home ice. The Kings need to take advantage of more scoring opportunities in the zone offensively and around the net in front of Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood.
Here are three bold predictions for the Kings vs. Avalanche in Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night early this week.
Anton Forsberg holds the Avalanche to two goals or fewer for the second last consecutive game
This past weekend on Sunday was the first Stanley Cup Playoffs career start in the postseason this spring for Anton Forsberg for the Kings in Game 1 vs. Colorado. Darcy Kuemper was the more experienced goalie for the Kings in the postseason in the playoffs this past couple of years this spring in the West.
"He’s in exceptional shape, he works hard at it, he’s been given an opportunity, and he’s doing a good job. He’s doing a good job. He’s always been kind of second fiddle to the top dogs, but he’s getting an opportunity, and he’s doing real well. He’s giving us a chance to win."DJ Smith on Anton Forsberg
Forsberg showed down the stretch this past regular season in the West in the Pacific Division that he earned the starter goalie job this postseason in the playoffs for the Kings in this past couple of months. I think the Kings played well enough defensively in the zone and in front of Forsberg in the net in the crease to make sure he didn't need be on top of it all.
In Game 1, Forsberg was tremendous against the Avalanche defensively in the zone, stopping 28 out of the 30 shots.
Artemi Panarin scores two goals and leads the Kings to a win
The game's only goal on the scoreboard in the final frame in the third period in clutch time for the Kings in the West vs. Colorado in Game 1 was scored by forward Artemi Panarin. He scored a goal on special teams on the power play on the 5-on-4 man advantage in the final frame in the third period for the Kings this past weekend.
The Kings need to get more action on the scoreboard and in the zone offensively on special teams on the power play on the 5-on-4 man advantage. Panarin and potentially Andrei Kuzmenko in the core forward lines group up front offensively could provide a spark in the zone, scoring the puck vs. Colorado.
The Kings take home ice advantage from Colorado
If the Kings can put the odds in their favor on home ice this upcoming week this postseason in the playoffs, that could help to make this series more advantageous at Crypto.com Arena for Smith and the coaching staff on the road.
A loss in Game 2 would make the climb up the hill for the Kings in the West in this upcoming next couple of weeks on the ice vs. Colorado almost insurmountable this spring.
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