Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 3/9/2024

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO

Where to watch: BSW, ALT, SN360

DraftKings: Avalanche -170, Kings +140

BetMGM: Avalanche -170, Kings +140

Caesars: Avalanche -170, Kings +140

Kings: 37-20-8

Avalanche: 35-21-6

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The Los Angeles Kings will be playing the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, March 9 in Denver, Colorado.

The Los Angeles Kings won against the Washington Capitals last Monday, March 6 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California with a score of 4-2. The Los Angeles Kings currently rank 1st in the Pacific Division.

Vladislav Gavrikov scored his first goal for the Kings (37-20-8), who are 9-2-1 since the All-Star break. Pheonix Copley made 20 saves.

Los Angeles is tied with the Vegas Golden Knights, who have two games in hand, for first in the Pacific Division.

"We were patient to score and we were committed to check, and those two things are pretty good traits to have this time of year," Kings coach Todd McLellan said.

Rasmus Sandin gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 11:39 of the second period, scoring five-hole with a backhand from his knees after he whiffed on his initial shot from the slot.

Gavrikov tied it 1-1 at 13:18, chipping down and putting in the rebound of Kevin Fiala's shot. It was his first point in three games with Los Angeles since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

"I knew it was going to take a while, like learning the details and stuff," Gavrikov said. "I feel more comfortable every game."

Phillip Danault put the Kings back in front 2-1 at 19:27 when his redirection of Viktor Arvidsson's shot bounced over Kuemper's left pad.

Alex Ovechkin tied it 2-2 at 2:31 of the third period with a one-timer from the top of the left circle during a 5-on-3 power play.

Mikey Anderson scored the go-ahead goal in the third period. Anderson gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead at 7:52, scoring with a one-timer from the slot off a pass from Quinton Byfield on a rush.

Adrian Kempe shot into an empty net at 19:58 for the 4-2 final.

"We want to keep building our game," Kings center Phillip Danault said. "We know we can get even better, and obviously we want to carry that into the playoffs."

The Los Angeles Kings have won seven of their last 10 games.

The Colorado Avalanche won against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday, March 7 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado with a score of 6-0. The Colorado Avalanche currently rank 3rd in the Central Division.

Cale Makar and Valeri Nichushkin each had a goal and three assists for the Colorado Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen each had a goal and an assist, and Alexandar Georgiev made 13 saves for his fourth shutout this season for the Avalanche (35-21-6), who had lost three straight.

Colorado moved into third place in the Central Division, three points behind the Minnesota Wild, who have played two more games, for second. The Wild lost 1-0 in a shootout to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

"Let's be fair, right. It's a tough schedule, the back-to-back travel, cross border, get in late, playing some tough teams and playing a lot of hockey, and we finally catch a team that's a little bit tired and we're rested," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "Tonight, there was a lot of positive signs, and again, we had the better legs and we were skating, but you should be able to do that and repeat that type of performance and that type of effort and that type of execution regardless of who you're playing if you're sharp and dialed in."

Makar gave Colorado a 1-0 lead at 4:08 of the first period with a shot from the point that went through a screen and in off the glove of Kahkonen.

"It's fun when you win games like this, and when you do in a fashion where we play a complete game, that's even better," Makar said. "Obviously, I always want to contribute, but that's not how I base my game-to-game play. I think it's more so the overall aspect. I look at different things, whether it's offensively or not."

MacKinnon made it 2-0 at 12:51, juking his defender in the high slot before scoring through a screen.

Mikko Rantanen pushed it to 3-0 at 17:01 with a power-play goal, electing to shoot glove side from the left circle on a 2-on-1 with Samuel Girard.

Nichushkin made it 4-0 at 1:22 of the second period on a redirection. It was his first four-point game since Dec. 7, 2013.

"I think that was nice start, especially like sometimes you have like 20 shots to score one goal, and today we, I think, get more lucky," Nichushkin said. "Ten years ago, it was, I had like four points, too. Probably next game will be in 10 years again."

Denis Malgin extended it to 5-0 at 2:45 of the second when he roofed a shot short side from the left circle.

At the time of the goal, Colorado was outshooting San Jose 24-2.

Lehkonen made it 6-0 at 18:21. Makar got around two defenders and drew a third to him along the goal line before passing to Lehkonen for a one-timer in the slot.

"[Lehkonen's] an extremely hard worker, extremely hard worker. He's in on the forecheck all the time," Bednar said. "He's a puck hound."

The Colorado Avalanche have won seven of their last 10 games.

Prediction

What a game this should be. Avalanche 4, Kings 3

Kings:

Quinton Byfield -- Anze Kopitar -- Adrian Kempe   

Kevin Fiala -- Phillip Danault -- Viktor Arvidsson  

Alex Iafallo -- Blake Lizotte -- Gabriel Vilardi  

Zack MacEwen -- Rasmus Kupari -- Arthur Kaliyev

Mikey Anderson -- Drew Doughty   

Vladislav Gavrikov -- Matt Roy

Alexander Edler -- Sean Durzi  

Joonas Korpisalo

Avalanche:

Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Valeri Nichushkin

Evan Rodrigues -- J.T. Compher -- Mikko Rantanen

Andrew Cogliano -- Lars Eller -- Logan O'Connor

Matt Nieto -- Alex Newhook -- Denis Malgin

Devon Toews -- Cale Makar

Samuel Girard -- Bowen Byram

Jack Johnson -- Brad Hunt

Alexandar Georgiev