Game 3 Notes, Reactions and What Comes Next

The LA Kings managed to score two goals in Game 3, but it wasn’t enough as they fell 4-2 to the Colorado Avalanche, putting LA on the verge of elimination. Any sort of positive vibes from Game 1 or even after Game 2’s overtime loss are all but erased as the Kings now have the impossible task of beating the NHL’s best team four times in a row. Believe it or not, Colorado has lost four games in a row this season. A stretch in November saw them drop games to Utah, Carolina, Boston, and New Jersey. Granted, only one of those losses was in regulation.

Here are some thoughts on Game 3 and whether or not there’s any avenue for an LA Kings miracle:

• Not all point shots are created equal. As LA fans, we’re so used to seeing Joel Edmundson at a standstill at the blueline, wiring a slap shot as hard as he can, that is about as low percentage as it gets. Meanwhile, Colorado scored a goal on a very simple wrist shot from the point. The difference? The ability to move horizontally along the blue line to change the angle of the shot and force the goalie to move and navigate traffic. The shot wasn’t hard, but it was effective. Maybe, one day, the LA Kings organization will figure this out.
• On a related note, Brandt Clarke is one of the few bright spots in this series. Try as he might, he’s just on an island among his defense peers. He continues to try to force the issue in the offensive zone with his movements, and his defensive game has come a long way.
• Also related, Clarke was sixth among LA defensemen in time on ice at 5-on-5. As a reminder, there are only six defensemen dressed. Before getting too upset at DJ Smith, Clarke did have the third-most shifts at 5-on-5. For some reason, his average shift length was just 32 seconds. Compare that to the team leader, Brian Dumoulin‘s 48 seconds.
• Trevor Moore earned that goal. Not only did he take a high stick to the face as he did it, but with how well he’s played this series. He’s had several chances in these three games, so good on him to finally find the back of the net.
• A couple of tough-luck goals against for Anton Forsberg. When you’re as good as Colorado, you create your own luck and tend to get the bounces. For LA, the margin of error is just too small for them to have those hard-luck bounces go against them.
• Andrei Kuzmenko made his return to the lineup in Game 3. We didn’t get the offensive jolt we’d have hoped for, which isn’t much of a shock. At this point, Kuzmenko is the equivalent of a Hail Mary. He managed just 8:24 TOI at 5-on-5, was outshot 4-2, and was on the ice for a whopping 0.01 xGF. Still worth the gamble.
• Smith wanted his matchups at home, and he got them. Quinton Byfield saw nearly 10 minutes of 5-on-5 time against Nathan MacKinnon, and Byfield managed those minutes well. The LA center got the better in shot share (62.2% CF), expected goal share (58.9%), while also having a 9-6 edge in scoring chances. I know, we’re not interested in moral victories anymore.
• You may hear some say that this series has been close because of the score-lines and that LA was, *clears throat*, “right there”, but don’t fall for it. This hasn’t been close.
  

  Team	Wins	CF%	SOG%	xG%	SCF%
  Colorado Avalanche	3	55.0	58.6	57.6	58.6
  LA Kings	0	45.0	41.4	42.4	41.4

• What changes can be made for Game 4? Does it matter? It’s shuffling deck chairs in a forward group that could really use Kevin Fiala right about now. Even still, as we’ve been saying for years, it’s all moot with the lack of puck-moving ability on the blueline.
• More so than any game this season, I will be rooting just a little extra for a win in Game 4. This series may be over, but hopefully, Anze Kopitar can get one more win at home.

DJ Smith said after the game that there’s no quit in the LA Kings team. I believe that. Unfortunately, Ken Holland tied all of their hands. Here’s hoping they can make the series interesting.

Stats via Natural Stat Trick

Main Photo Credit: Mark J. Terrill, AP Photo