LOS ANGELES — Just as the Avalanche was beginning its game at the Staples Center on Monday, the St. Louis Blues lost to the visiting — opening a window of playoff opportunity for the Avs.
With a victory over the , Colorado would have increased its lead over St. Louis to three points for the last Western Conference spot, with two remaining games for the Avs and three for the Blues.
But the Kings had similar thoughts. They’re in the playoff chase, too, and defeating the Avs would get them within a point of clinching a postseason bid.
Things ultimately went L.A.’s way as the hosts used a superior first period and an early third-period goal from Kyle Clifford to down Colorado 3-1 and separate themselves in this tight chase. The Kings (96 points) leapfrogged Anaheim (95) for the third Pacific Division playoff spot and the Avs (93) remain a point ahead of St. Louis for the last wild-card position.
“We knew they lost,” Avs captain said of the Blues. “It’s frustrating, but for us, we’re still alive and we’re going to keep our hopes up and keep believing and our main focus will be on San Jose on Thursday.”
can’t get it done in LA, remain just a point ahead of STL
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers)
The MGM Line (center , Landeskog, ) was pointless against the Kings and had just five combined shots. They are now on a two-game goalless drought.
“Everything was kind of going in the whole year and now it’s just really tight,” said MacKinnon, who still leads the NHL in points-per-game (1.32) despite his recent struggles.
The loss eliminated Colorado from catching Minnesota for the third and final Central Division spot, so the best the Avs can do is a wild-card berth.
The Avs, who began this three-game California trip with a 4-3 overtime loss Sunday at Anaheim, visit San Jose on Thursday before returning to Denver for Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Blues. That game likely will determine the final playoff spot.
“The opportunity is definitely there — it’s still there,” MacKinnon said of the playoffs. “(The Blues) have a game in hand but we’re still up on them, and they have to win their game in hand, and then we get to play them.”
Torrey Mitchell, Dustin Brown and Clifford scored for the Kings and rookie Alex Kerfoot’s goal got the Avs on the board to make it 2-1 early in the second period.
Despite producing just five shots, the Kings easily won the first period, creating two breakaway opportunities before cashing in on a fortunate bounce and Brown’s shorthanded goal.
Mitchell made it 1-0 at 9:29, tapping the puck in from the top of the crease after linemate Nate Thompson put a long shot off goalie . The goalie directed the puck to the end boards behind him, but it caromed back to him in the crease and he had to avoid touching it instead of watching out for a threatening stick. Thompson swatted it in the net and the Kings had the all-important first goal.
They doubled that lead at 12:32 when Brown put a wrist shot through the legs of defenseman and over Bernier’s shoulder.
“To be honest, I thought we played a really hard game,” Bernier said. “I just have to be better. Their first goal, it was a lucky goal but it killed our momentum.”
Kerfoot scored during a power play, and it was a tightly contested 2-1 game into the third period before Clifford scored at 2:00.
“Obviously, it would have been great to win or try to find a way to get it to OT, but they played a tight game and we couldn’t find a way to get anything in the third,” Barrie said.
