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Kings Flex Champ Muscles And Dominate Avs — Takeaways

By Austin Manak

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Tonight’s game featured two teams with different trajectories entering the game. The Avalanche came in hot, having won their last 3 games. The LA Kings entered with a bit more turbulence, losers of 4 of their past 6.

On this night, it was the Kings who flexed their muscles, and showed why they are the defending Stanley Cup champs.

LA dominated the contest from the get-go, winning puck battles, dominating the Avalanche physically on the forecheck, playing stellar defense, and clogging up the Avs transition game in the neutral zone. It was the type of performance that gives many reason to believe that LA is primed for another deep playoff run despite sitting outside the playoffs looking in as of right now.

The Avalanche’s recent wins came on the back of Semyon Varlamov, who was the NHL’s second star of the week, posting a 3-0-0 record, 0.69 GAA, and 0.981 save percentage. Varly also posted 124:19 of shutout hockey spanning over parts of all 3 games.

The victories were fueled by 4 power play goals in the past 3 games. The PP has been a notorious weakness for Colorado all season, despite the notable firepower up front.

What made tonight different for the Avalanche?

67. Final. 2. 103. 5

Takeaways

1. Injuries

Tonight, the Avalanche looked outmatched.

The Avs are 2nd in the NHL in man-games lost to injury. More important than the quantity tonight, was the quality of personnel missing on the ice for Colorado. The Avs were without their MVP in Semyon Varlamov, their best defenseman (and perhaps best skater this season) in Erik Johnson, and arguably the most talented forward in Nathan MacKinnon.

It’s tough to win consistently in the NHL. It’s even tougher when you don’t have your best players suited up.

2. Special Teams

The power play had been such a game-changer for the Avalanche in their previous 3 wins. It failed them tonight, going 0/3. To make matters worse, the Kings were able to convert on 1 of their 3 power play opportunities.

3. Calvin and Hobbes, err Reto

I don’t think you can blame Calvin Pickard for his rough performance in the first period. He wasn’t as ridiculously sharp as he was in many of his starts earlier this season, but the goals he allowed were all tough saves.

The first goal was a superb tip by Marian Gaborik, and the third goal found it’s way into the net after a deflection as well.

Berra came in and wasn’t outstanding either, but he wasn’t awful. Actually, stopping 20/22 would probably be considered a nice step in the right direction for Berra had the performance come earlier in the season. At this point, it seems like Roy has already lost almost all confidence in Berra, and I doubt an average effort in relief will do much to change that.

Bottom line is that Varlamov was playing lights out for this club, and even though I don’t think you blame Picks or Berra for the loss, you wonder if Varly might have found a way to keep the Avalanche in it and make those saves.

4. Duchene and Barrie

Duchene had fantastic jump, and almost scored an equalizing goal for the Avalanche in the first period after the Avs had fallen behind 2-0. Instead, he heard the all-too-familiar PING.

Dutchy had great jump all night, and worked his little tail off on the defensive end as well.

Tyson Barrie had himself a sterling performance on national TV. He was superb. His goal was as smooth as it gets from the defensive position, and he facilitated a majority of the Avs best chances all night.

Barrie also made a great defensive play early in the game, after Nate Guenin had a puck jump over his stick at the offensive blue-line. Barrie broke up the 2-0n-1 rush the Kings had the other way.

Barrie also showed off his goaltending skills after Roy pulled Berra with the game out of hand late. Barrie dove back to block a sure goal, and then on the same shift, crashed into the net with Jan Hejda to save another sure goal for the Kings.

Barrie is so much fun to watch, and he is on his game right now.

5. A line abandoned

New guys Freddie Hamilton and Jordan Caron both didn’t receive a shift in the 3rd period. I like what Caron has brought with his compete level and physicality around the puck. Problem is, you need to produce points when you play on a line with Duchene and Iginla. Caron is empty on the scoresheet through four games.

Hamilton also got some playing time with the Avs’ better forwards. He is a hustler, but I guess Roy didn’t like what he saw, or trust him enough to play him down the stretch.

The real surprise was that John Mitchell was also benched for the third period. Mitchell is very solid for the Avalanche on most nights, but his offensive game has been quiet for a while now. Will be interesting to see how Roy handles his lineup Thursday night when the Devils come to town.

Next: Avs Prospects: Duncan Siemens

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