The Colorado Avalanche continued their impressive run on Monday night with a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena, a game that showcased both the firepower of Colorado’s top line and the resilience of a young Kings roster under new leadership. It was a night of milestones, debuts, and standout performances, leaving fans from both sides with plenty to talk about as the NHL season barrels toward its final stretch.
The Avalanche, riding high after the Olympic break, wasted little time asserting themselves. Within the first five minutes, their top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Martin Necas, and Nathan MacKinnon combined for a lightning-quick transition goal. Landeskog, showing off his renewed form, dished the puck to Necas, who then found MacKinnon streaking down the slot. MacKinnon buried the puck with authority, giving Colorado an early lead and setting the tone for the evening.
Just past the halfway mark of the opening period, the same trio struck again. This time, the Avalanche worked the puck from low to high, with defenseman Brent Burns feeding Landeskog near the left circle. Landeskog didn’t hesitate, one-timing the puck through a screen and past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg to double the lead. The chemistry and confidence of Colorado’s top line were on full display, reinforcing why head coach Jared Bednar has stuck with this combination since the break.
"The performance in L.A. from the top line told us everything we need to know about why Gabe Landeskog and Martin Necas are the ones playing with Nathan MacKinnon," observed a Colorado Hockey Now analyst. With Artturi Lehkonen sidelined, Bednar’s decision to keep Landeskog and Necas alongside MacKinnon proved prescient, as all three players continued their torrid post-Olympic pace.
The Kings, however, were not about to roll over—especially not in Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith’s debut behind the bench. On their first power play of the night, Los Angeles clawed one back. Captain Anze Kopitar won a crucial faceoff, sending the puck to defenseman Brandt Clarke at the point. Clarke’s shot, with Corey Perry providing a high screen, found its way through traffic and past Avalanche netminder Mackenzie Blackwood. The goal brought the Kings within one and injected new life into the arena heading into the first intermission.
The second period saw a memorable moment for the Kings and their fans. Defenseman Angus Booth, making his NHL debut, tied the game with his first career goal. After a slick passing sequence between Adrian Kempe and Brian Dumoulin at the blue line, Dumoulin found Booth sneaking in on the weak side. Booth redirected the puck past Blackwood, sending the Kings’ bench into a frenzy. Booth became the 24th player in franchise history to score in his NHL debut and the fourth Kings defenseman to do so—a remarkable achievement for the rookie.
"It was a good read by him, finding open ice, especially with we had a couple guys high already, so it was good for him to slide down and find that back post. I thought he played really well tonight. He was poised with the puck, didn’t just throw it away, I was impressed by him," said Dumoulin, reflecting on Booth’s performance.
With the score knotted at two and time winding down, the Avalanche’s stars once again took charge. Sustained pressure in the Kings’ zone led to a critical breakdown in coverage. MacKinnon, ever the catalyst, used his speed to create space along the right wing before threading a perfect pass to defenseman Devon Toews, who buried his second goal of the season for what would stand as the game-winner. The play was a testament to MacKinnon’s vision and Toews’ timely offensive instincts.
MacKinnon’s assist extended his multi-point streak to four games, bringing his season total to 99 points in 59 games—a pace that has him flirting with the century mark in record time. "What an unbelievable season he’s having," noted the Avalanche’s beat writer. It was another night where MacKinnon led by example, driving play and elevating those around him.
Martin Necas, too, continued his post-Olympic surge. With a late empty-net goal, Necas reached 71 points on the season and notched his ninth point in four games since returning from international duty. The young forward now sits eighth among all NHL skaters in scoring and is on track to shatter his previous career high of 83 points.
Landeskog, the Avalanche’s captain, looked rejuvenated after his Olympic experience. He finished the night with three points, giving him five in four games since the break. After a sluggish start to the season, Landeskog has found his form, posting a 65-point pace over his last 29 games. "He’s so back," remarked one Colorado observer, capturing the sentiment of Avs fans everywhere.
On the defensive end, Mackenzie Blackwood continued his steady play in goal for Colorado. With a 5-3-0 record in his last eight starts and only 13 goals allowed in that span, Blackwood has provided the Avalanche with the stability they need as the playoffs approach.
For the Kings, despite the loss, there were positives to build on. Anton Forsberg was outstanding, making 36 saves and keeping Los Angeles in the game with timely stops. Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith praised his team’s effort: "What we wanted to establish is a sense of work ethic, a sense of physicality, a sense of we’re not going to sit back, we’re going to come get you. I think we did all those things tonight."
The night also marked a significant milestone for Kings captain Anze Kopitar, who skated in his 1,499th NHL game, tying him with Mike Modano for the 25th most in league history. Kopitar’s assist on Clarke’s goal extended his home point streak against the Avalanche to six games, further cementing his place among the franchise’s all-time greats.
It was a night of firsts for Los Angeles, with three rookies—Booth, Jared Wright, and Kenny Connors—making their NHL debuts. This rare occurrence marked only the 11th time in Kings history that three players debuted in the same game, and the first such instance since 1980. Wright and Connors, both drafted in the fourth round in 2022, joined Booth in a memorable shared milestone.
As the final horn sounded and Colorado added an empty-netter with just half a second remaining, the Avalanche became the first NHL team to reach 40 wins this season, boasting a 40-10-9 record through 59 games. While not a franchise record, it’s a testament to their consistency and depth.
The Kings, meanwhile, will regroup during their scheduled day off before returning to practice, eager to build on the effort and energy shown in Smith’s debut. With young talent emerging and veterans still setting the standard, Los Angeles has reasons for optimism even in defeat.
For the Avalanche, the victory in Los Angeles capped a stretch of three wins in four games and set the stage for a potentially stellar five-game run in just seven days. With their stars firing on all cylinders and the team clicking at both ends of the ice, Colorado looks every bit the contender as the regular season heats up.