The high-scoring Avalanche is proving it’s ready for tight, low-scoring playoff games in May and June.
Colorado on Tuesday night blanked the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 at Crypto.com Arena. It was the second consecutive shutout for goalie Darcy Kuemper and the NHL-leading Avs (43-13-5), who became the first team to reach 90 points with 21 remaining games before the postseason.
Here are five takeaways from the win:
Manson’s debut. Kuemper (23 saves) was good but the defenders in front of him were great — particularly defenseman Josh Manson in his debut with the team. Acquired on Monday from the Anaheim Ducks for a prospect and a draft pick, the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Manson delivered a game-high 10 hits in 18:41, third-highest among Avalanche defensemen behind the top pairing of Cale Makar (24:57) and Devon Toews (22:49).
Manson’s 10 hits were the most for an Avalanche player since similar-style defenseman Nikita Zadorov had 10 at Boston in 2019.
“If Josh’s game tonight is any indication, he’s going to help us in a big way,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said postgame.
Manson’s presence helped Colorado deliver a season-high 39 hits, the club’s most since May 2021, at Vegas (49).
Manson, 30, traveled from coast to coast to join the Avs in L.A. The Ducks were between games in New York against the Islanders and Rangers early Monday night when he was told of the trade. He boarded a flight and landed around 2 a.m. in L.A. on Tuesday morning.
“It was a quick turnaround. Itap been a bit of a whirlwind,” Manson said pregame.
Powering up. Colorado’s first two goals came on the power play from wingers Valeri Nichushkin and Mikko Rantanen. The Avs finished 2 for 2 with the man-advantage and is 3 for 4 over its last two games.
Limited power-play opportunities are common in the postseason, and taking advantage of them is crucial. Colorado is playing into that form.
“Kuemperor.” Kuemper’s second consecutive shutout was his fifth of the season, ranking third among all NHL goalies, and he became the first Avalanche goaltender to record consecutive shutouts twice in the same season. Kuemper had 46 saves in a 3-0 win against the Calgary Flames in Denver on Sunday.
Against the Kings, Kuemper credited his teammates.
“We didn’t really give them anything off the rush, and once we got into the zone, we were closing quick, taking away their time and space,” he said. “And when they were getting shots, they were to the outside and I was able to see them, and the guys did an amazing job in front of me.”
Kuemper is fueling that amazement.
“He’s playing with a ton of confidence, and it’s pouring over to the rest of our team,” Bednar said.
Against the Pacific. The Avs improved to 13-1-1 against Pacific Division teams. The Flames and Kings are first and second in that race, respectively, and Colorado is a combined 3-0-1 against them.
The Avs, who still lead the President’s Trophy race with the NHL’s best record that carries home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, will almost surely secure the No. 1 Western Conference playoff seed and open against the No. 8 seed (second wild card).
“It’s going to be a waste of eight days,” Calgary coach .
Historic season. Colorado reached 90 points (now 91) in 61 games, the fastest in the club’s 26-year history.
If the Avs win 14 of their final 21 games, or collect 28 points in another fashion, they will exceed the club-record 118 points set in 2000-01, the last time they hoisted the Stanley Cup.
Footnote. The Avs have Wednesday off. They will practice on Thursday in San Jose to prepare for Friday’s game against the Sharks to conclude the two-game trip.
