Kings vs Avalanche Game 39: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

The Los Angeles Kings (20-12-6) are back in action Thursday night taking on the (19-12-2) Colorado Avalanche.

The Kings have registered at least one point in each of their last six games and have won five of them. They're starting to find their game again and will hope to carry that momentum into Colorado. 

Colorado has a depleted roster right now, missing key pieces like Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson & Bowen Byram. The Kings have a good opportunity to take advantage of a weakened team Thursday.

This doesn't mean the Kings can take the night off though, as Colorado's won six of their last eight games and is still a danger. They've been led by star winger Mikko Rantanen. With 24 goals and 43 points, he sits top-ten in the league for points and top-five for goals. 

Pheonix Copley is expected in net again tonight. As he continues to hold down the number one goalie spot. 

Analytically this points to a fairly even matchup, with both teams sitting close to each other in expected goals percentage and possession numbers at five-on-five according to moneypuck.com. 

Even with Copley's solid play since joining the Kings, I'd give a slight edge in net to Alexandar Georgiev and the Avalanche.

Expected Los Angeles Kings Lines:

Kevin Fiala-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe

Alex Iafallo-Phil Danault-Viktor Arvidsson

Jaret Anderson-Dolan-Blake Lizotte-Gabe Vilardi

Brendan Lemieux-Quinton Byfield-Rasmus Kupari

Defense:

Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty

Sean Durzi-Matt Roy

Alex Edler-Sean Walker

Goalies:

Pheonix Copley

Jonathan Quick

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines, Per ColoradoHockeyNow.com:

Artturi Lehkonen – J.T. Compher – Mikko Rantanen

Alexander Newhook – Evan Rodrigues – Denis Malgin

Andrew Cogliano – Ben Meyers – Logan O’Connor

Kurtis MacDermid – Charles Hudon – Jacbo MacDonald

Defense

Devon Toews – Cale Makar

Samuel Girard – Erik Johnson

Andreas Englund – Brad Hunt

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Jonas Johansson

Special Teams:

Los Angeles Kings Power Play: 30-133, 22.56%, 16th in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Penalty Kill: 38-133, 71.43%, 29th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 30-110, 27.27%, 5th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 25-106, 76.42%, 22nd in NHL

Los Angeles Kings Pre-Game Notes:

• Viktor Arvidsson (1-2=3) recorded his third three-point game of the year Tuesday night versus Vegas. In doing so, Arvidsson (10- 17=27) reached the 10-goal and 25-point plateau for a seventh consecutive season. He enters tonight with five points (2-3=5) in his last four games. 
• Blake Lizotte has four points (1-3=4) in his last four games. 
• Trevor Moore returns to Colorado where he played collegiate hockey at the University of Denver. Moore recorded 120 points (47- 73=120) in 121 career NCAA games. 
• Kevin Fiala leads all Kings skaters with 18 road points (4-14=18). 
• No skater has drawn more penalties on the Kings than Gabriel Vilardi (17).

How to Watch:

TV: Bally Sports West, ESPN+; Radio: iHeartRadio