The Los Angeles Kings began their first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche with the first two games in Denver.
Anton Forsberg and Artemi Panarin have shined in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the series' first two games for the Los Angeles Kings and DJ Smith
Game 1 was on April 19. The first period was scoreless with both teams playing tight defense. In the second period, the Avalanche thought they scored, but it was successfully challenged for goalie interference. With less than five minutes left in the same period, Colorado got on the board when Artturi Lehkonen scored an even-strength goal.
The Avalanche stretched the lead to 2-0 when Logan O’Connor also scored an even-strength goal. The Kings finally got on the board with about three minutes remaining in the game when Artemi Panarin scored on the power play. Unfortunately, this would be the Kings' lone goal of the game. With the Avalanche earning a 2-1 win and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2 began in a similar way to Game 1, with no score on both ends after the first two periods. Both teams were clogging the neutral zone, and the goaltending was excellent. The Kings were the first to score with seven minutes remaining in the game when Panarin scored for the second time in the series, another power-play goal.
However, this would be the Kings' only goal of the game. The Avalanche tied things up when captain Gabriel Landeskog scored his first goal of the series four minutes later. Regulation ended with a 1-1 tie, forcing overtime. Playoff overtime is different from the regular season, with the teams playing 5 vs 5 and being given a full 20-minute period.
Colorado won about seven and a half minutes in when Nicolas Roy netted the game-winner. It was another 2-1 loss for the Kings, who have been playing the Avalanche, the President's Trophy winner, very tough. With Panarin accounting for both Kings goals through the first two games and goaltender Anton Forsberg turning in solid performances in the net, the Kings will need more offensive contributions from the rest of the roster.
The series now shifts to Los Angeles with Game 3 on Apr. 23 and Game 4 on Apr 26. With the Avalanche holding a commanding 2-0 lead, the Kings hope to win at home and extend the series and get back to Colorado for at least a fifth game.
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