Make Way for the Kings LA Kings News and Info
Game 29; 25-12-2
DENVER, Colo. — Despite having the hot hand, Jonathan Quick was given the night off — perhaps as a reward for being named the NHL‘s First Star of the Week — as Jhonas Enroth got his first start since Dec. 19. While he did play well for the most part, though, the Avalanche attack was simply too much as they beat the visiting Kings by a 4-1 count, effectively ending their five-game winning streak.
On this night, shaky defense and a lack of penalty-killing efficiency did the Kings in as the Avs scored three times on the power play. Defenseman Tyson Barrie was the biggest factor in this one as he scored Colorado’s first two goals before assisting on the third, scored by Matt Duchene. The Avs’ fourth goal, however, was the most notable as veteran forward Jarome Iginla banked a pass off Jake Muzzin and in to notch his 600th-career NHL goal. Iginla became just the 19th player in league history to accomplish the feat and while it did come at the Kings’ expense, plenty of credit is due for a player who has been nothing short of a consummate gentleman and a true ambassador to the game of hockey.
For Los Angeles, Tyler Toffoli scored the lone goal — on the power play — for his team-leading 19th. It was a one-timer from Anze Kopitar and Jake Muzzin.
The Avs outshot the Kings by a 23-15 margin through two but it was the silver-and-black who did the outshooting in the third — 15-7 to be exact. Unfortunately, the Avs outscored the Kings 2-0 in the final frame.
Semyon Varlamov was big in this one, stopping 29 shots while Jhonas Enroth did make 24 saves despite looking shaky on a few plays.
With the win, Colorado moves one win over .500 while handing the Kings their first loss of 2016.
Overall, not the greatest night for the silver-and-black but they will hope to rebound on Thursday night when they return home to host Jonathan Bernier and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
