Colorado Avalanche (47-24-6) vs. Los Angeles Kings (46-24-10)
The 2022-23 NHL season goes on with a 16-game Saturday card when the Colorado Avalanche take on the Los Angeles Kings in this Western Conference clash at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The puck drops at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Los Angeles has won both meetings between these teams, winning in Denver both times, including a 5-2 victory on March 9. The Kings were the underdogs in that contest (+141) with the total set at 6.5. The Kings are underdogs in this game as well with the Avalanche the favorites at -130.
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, 6-2. It was the third straight victory for the team, who are now atop the Central Division heading into Friday night’s action. The victory was the second on this four-game road trip, and the Avalanche are 26-11-1 on the road this season.
Mikko Rantanen led the way in the victory, scoring a hat trick to reach the 52-goal plateau. He now has 11 points over his last five games. San Jose had taken a one-goal lead but Rantanen responded with back-to-back tallies to lead four unanswered goals by the Avalanche. Ben Meyers also scored two goals for Colorado. The Avalanche are 16th in goals per game (3.33) and fifth on the power play (24.9%). They are averaging 4.00 goals per game over their last 10.
FOR THE 50TH TIME THIS SEASON.
THE MOOSE IS LOOSE!!! #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/zJyCySp881
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 7, 2023
Alexandar Georgiev stopped 21 shots in the victory. Georgiev (37-16-5, 2.53, .919) has allowed 13 total goals over his last five games and the Avalanche are allowing 2.20 goals per game over their last 10. They are ninth in goals against average (2.71) and 16th in penalty killing (79.1%).