Struggling Kings offer Avs a chance to add points
Fresh off a thrilling comeback victory over the Ducks in overtime on Sunday, the Avalanche continue their three-city road trip with a showdown against the Kings on Wednesday. Here are five things to know heading into the game at the Staples Center:
Momentum.
Colorado’s dramatic 4-3 overtime win over Anaheim marked the 1,000th victory in Avalanche history since the franchise relocated from Quebec in 1995. More importantly, with that historic factoid aside, Mikko Rantanen’s game-winning goal with 1.3 seconds to play gave Colorado its first overtime victory this season after dropping its first three opportunities in extra time.
The downtrodden Kings.
At 6-12-1, Los Angeles has the worst record in all of hockey as the Kings sit in the cellar of the Western Conference. Thus, Wednesday’s a prime opportunity for Colorado (10-6-4, 3rd in Central) to pick up another couple points with a win. The Kings swept the team’s three meetings last season, and Colorado will meet Los Angeles again on Dec. 31 and Jan. 19 at the Pepsi Center.
Mikko Rantanen, man on fire.
Sunday’s last-second score was merely the latest highlight in a season stacked full of them for Rantanen, as he leads the NHL with 32 points and is playing like the league’s premier offensive threat. The 22-year-old is the first Colorado player to record 30-plus points through 20 team games since Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg in 1996-97, and Rantanen’s on pace for 131 points this season.
Colin Wilson’s scoring.
After scoring six goals in 56 games last year, Wilson’s scored five times in 19 games this season, including the overtime-forcing deflection goal against the Capitals on Friday. The forward who posted a career-high 20 goals in 2014-15 with the Predators missed the Ducks’ game due to a lowerbody injury, and his return (still unknown) will be critical to the continued development of Colorado’s second line.
J.T. Compher’s impending return.
Compher is getting close to coming back, having practiced with a non-contact jersey over the last week. The forward didn’t play in Anaheim, but his impending return figures to give Colorado a secondary threat from the 23-year-old who had four points (and three goals) through the first five games of the season before being sidelined by a head injury in mid-October.