The Los Angeles Kings debuted some new third jerseys and sprucy silver helmets in the home regular season opener against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night (Oct. 7). Quinton Byfield and the Kings got the jump on the Avalanche early, getting three shots on goal in the game's first six minutes.
Jeff Malott and the Los Angeles Kings have their home opener ruined by the Avalanche in a multi-goal loss last night
In the game's first 10 minutes, the Kings had three scoring chances and blocked five shots from the Avalanche in the first period. The Kings got the early jump on the Avalanche, outshooting Colorado for the first half of the game's first period.
The Avs drew the opening salvo right after a power play expired on a goal with the special teams unit from forward Martin Necas early in the game's second period. It didn't take long for the Avs to expand the lead, doubling their lead on the scoreboard just four minutes later on a wrister from the point from defenseman Sam Malinski to make the score 2-0.
Just seven minutes after the Avs doubled the lead on the scoreboard in the second period, Colorado got its third goal of the frame on a rebound from Kuemper by Artturi Lehkonen.
Short stints of pressure in the offensive zone for the Kings amounted to just one high-danger scoring chance and a few shots on goal in the game's second period last night. Meanwhile, the Avs got multiple pucks through traffic and took advantage of two LA giveaways/turnovers in their zone that resulted in goals for Lehkonen and Colorado.
The Kings had a few good chances in the Avs zone from Colorado untimely turnovers late in the period in the second, but Alex Turcotte was unable to get the puck past Scott Wedgewood in that frame.
Colorado effectively sealed the game and put the Kings away early in the game's third period with Necas's second goal of the game for the Avs on the power play.
LA finally broke the dam late in the third period with a goal from Kevin Fiala on special teams on the power play.
Here are three takeaways from the Kings' 4-1 loss in the home regular season opener on Oct. 7 at Crypto Arena against the Avs.
Third and fourth-line forwards get good pressure early in the first period
In the first half of the first period last night, the Kings were holding their own against the Avs on both ends of the ice. Led by multiple shots on goal from Trevor Moore and Jeff Malott, the Kings had a few scoring chances and a good forecheck pressure early in the game's first period.
Malott and the Kings' fourth line brought the energy early in the game in the first period. Malott had a takeaway, two hits, and seven penalty minutes in the game's first period alone. He stuck up for his teammate after a heavy hit from Colorado defenseman Josh Manson on winger Warren Foegele in the open ice.
Jeff Malott drops the gloves with Josh Manson!pic.twitter.com/0z6Lyefdvx
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) October 8, 2025
Manson and Malott dropped the gloves for a big fight late in the first period for the Kings.
Avs take control in the second period
The Kings' defense struggled to keep the Avs out of the front of the net in front of Kuemper. The Avs got multiple goals either off rebounds or through traffic in the second period last night.
A stat that painted a good picture of how the second period went for the Kings and Avs was Colorado doubling up LA's scoring chances and tripling their high-danger scoring chances in front of the net (per Natural Stat Trick).
By the time the Kings started to get more consistent offensive pressure in the game's third period last night, the Avs already had a 4-0 lead on the scoreboard. The Kings couldn't get pucks through traffic and missed some opportunities when the game was closer in the second period.
Avalanche spoil Anze Kopitar's final home opener this regular season for the Kings
Last night was seen as a bittersweet moment for Kings' captain and legendary center Anze Kopitar in the final home regular season opener he played at Crypto Arena this campaign. Despite registering an assist on the Kings' only power play goal on special teams in the third period, Kopitar and the Kings had their home opener spoiled in a three-goal loss to the Avs.
"That was not a good game for us, but I don’t want to take away from how well Colorado played here tonight, you know what I mean, so let’s give them the credit that they’re due and say that we need to play better than we did."Jim Hiller
In the preseason this fall, Kopitar announced his retirement following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season for the Kings. He leads many major statistical categories in all-time Kings' franchise history and key records for the team in the past few decades.
The Kings had some life and hope in the home opener last night at the end of the first period. But the Avs took complete control of the game, expanding its lead to a convincing 3-0 margin in the second period and early in the third.
Kopitar continued his scoring streak in regular season openers for the Kings for the eighth year in a row for LA.