Avalanche Triumph 4-1 Over Kings with Standout Performances from Doughty Kempe and Hiller
The LA Kings Open Season with Setback Against Colorado Avalanche
LA Kings Suffer Home Opener Defeat in Season Opener
The LA Kings faced a challenging start to the 2025-26 season, falling 4-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Despite an even first period, the Kings were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, with Colorado striking first in the second period.
Key Moments from the Game
Although the opening frame ended scoreless, the Avalanche quickly took control in the second. Just minutes into the period, Colorado forward Martin Necas scored the first goal of the game, assisted by Nathan MacKinnon, giving Colorado a 1-0 lead. Midway through the period, defenseman Sam Malinski doubled the advantage with a well-placed shot that eluded Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, making it 2-0.
Forward Artturi Lehkonen extended the lead to 3-0, capitalizing on a turnover by the Kings. Cale Makar’s swift movement allowed Lehkonen to score off a rebound. The Avalanche added a power-play goal in the third period, with Necas finding the net again, bringing the score to 4-0.
Kings Rally but Fall Short
In a late-game surge, the Kings managed to score on a 5-on-3 power play, with Kevin Fiala netting his first goal of the season at the top of the right circle, making it a 4-1 game. However, this came too late for a significant impact on the overall outcome.
Post-Game Reactions from Kings Players and Coach
Adrian Kempe and defenseman Drew Doughty addressed the team’s performance following the defeat. Kempe reflected on the need to improve, highlighting the Kings’ struggles with puck management during the second period. Doughty emphasized the importance of better defensive play and the need to draw from the positives in the team’s response in the third period despite it being “too little, too late.”
Head Coach Jim Hiller’s Assessment
Coach Hiller acknowledged the challenges faced by the Kings, particularly the impact of penalties and the difficulty in establishing offensive flow. He recognized the strong checking game from Colorado, which disrupted the Kings’ strategy. Hiller pointed out that the team must forecheck more effectively to create scoring opportunities and to adjust their play moving forward.
Notable Individual Performances
Several players stood out during the game:
- Kevin Fiala recorded his first goal of the season and tied for second all-time among Swiss players for power-play goals in NHL history.
- Anze Kopitar notched an assist, extending his points streak in season openers to eight games.
- Drew Doughty played in his 607th career home game, tying a notable NHL record.
Looking Ahead
As the Kings prepare for their next challenge against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, they aim to bounce back from this opening defeat. With several areas needing improvement, the team is determined to learn from this experience and deliver a stronger performance moving forward.
The Kings will not hold a morning skate prior to their next game, focusing instead on strategic adjustments from the lessons learned against Colorado.
