Kings head home in need of turnaround against Avalanche
The Los Angeles Kings are hanging tough with the Presidents' Trophy-wielding Colorado Avalanche, yet they trail 2-0 in their Western Conference first-round playoff series as it shifts to the West Coast.
As the Kings prepare to host the Avalanche for Game 3 Thursday, they need to find a way to get over the hump against the regular-season champions to draw back into the best-of-seven series.
Both games were 2-1 finals, with the latest requiring Colorado to work overtime to win Tuesday.
"It's tough, the way it ended, both games," Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg said. "We're right in there, playing well. We're fighting, we're fighting hard. Just got to stick with it and turn this around."
The second loss stung on another level. Artemi Panarin's power-play goal -- his second in as many outings -- opened the scoring with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, but Colorado captain Gabe Landeskog tied the game with 3:35 left to set up Nicolas Roy's winner 7:44 into extra time.
Los Angeles boasts a stout defensive game, but needs more offense from players not named Panarin. The Kings certainly had their chances in Game 2. Not only was Quinton Byfield denied on a second-period penalty shot, the Kings had opportunities in sudden-death.
"We had the momentum in overtime," interim coach D.J. Smith said. "We were out-chancing them at that point and then maybe a bad bounce or a turnover, whatever, it ends up in your net. To a man, this team's playing hard and we have to find a way to win, though."
As for the Avalanche, they know having the upper hand at this point only means so much, especially if the Kings regroup and find a way to win their first two home games.
The Kings have been knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in four consecutive years, so they're giving everything they have to end that trend.
"Playoffs are going to be hard. It's a really good team over there," Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon said. "They're playing hard. We're playing hard. It's low scoring, but it's fun hockey. ... Need to find a way to steal Game 3."
Saying his team must "steal" a game sounds over the top considering how the Avalanche have been all season. They led the NHL during the regular season with 3.68 goals per game, so clearly they have yet to show their top offensive form -- though the Kings (and Forsberg) deserve credit. Then again, Colorado was the league's stingiest defensive team in the regular season, too, and coach Jared Bednar's team has been showing why.
"We've been talking all year (about) the importance of the defending, and I'm happy with the commitment that we're getting from our guys," Bednar said. "I still think we got another step in our game that we can ramp up to. So we just got to go out and try to better our performances at home now on the road."
Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood has shown his top-tier game. His save of Byfield's penalty shot was highlight-reel worthy and he has stopped 48 of the 50 shots he has faced in this series.
Not bad for a 33-year-old who had zero Stanley Cup playoff victories -- and zero postseason starts -- on his resume until this series began.
"I think mentally, over my career, I've kind of been building my own scar tissue just trying to stay alive and stay in this league," Wedgewood said. "So mentally, I feel like the playoffs are almost kind of what I've been putting the pressure on myself for to get here. It's honestly felt like really fun hockey. Obviously, you know what's at stake."