Kings Face Must-Win Game as Playoff Elimination Looms Against Avalanche

As the pressure mounts, Kings coach D.J. Smith has given his team a day off, but not without a stern reminder: show up for work on Sunday, or face a long spring and summer. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Kings as they prepare for a pivotal game against the Colorado Avalanche. After dropping the first three games of their best-of-seven playoff series, the Kings find themselves one loss away from a fifth consecutive first-round exit.

Defenseman Drew Doughty, who last tasted victory in a playoff series during the Kings’ 2014 Stanley Cup run, echoed the sentiment. “Must-win game,” he stated emphatically. “Everyone’s going to give everything, and we’ve got to win that one. And then hopefully go back to Denver.” The urgency is palpable as the Kings look to stave off elimination.

The Kings’ recent loss came on Thursday, where two deflected goals and an empty-netter led to a 4-2 defeat, pushing them to the brink. “You don’t like the result,” Smith remarked, acknowledging the frustration that comes with such a tough loss. For the Avalanche, despite being the top team in the NHL during the regular season, the playoffs have been anything but easy. After narrowly winning two games at home, they now stand on the cusp of a sweep for the first time since their 2022 Stanley Cup victory.

“All the games have been tight. We’re right there,” forward Quinton Byfield said, emphasizing the need for the team to dig deeper. “Each guy, including myself, we just have to give a little bit more.” The Kings have shown promise in their special teams, scoring on the power play in every game and excelling on the penalty kill against the league’s highest-scoring team.

Despite their physical play and speed, the Kings have yet to convert that effort into a win. Goaltender Anton Forsberg has been a standout performer, amassing 90 saves in the series. “Sometimes you play real well for stretches and you don’t get the results,” Smith noted, reflecting on the team’s struggles to find the back of the net. “Maybe we didn’t stay with it long enough.” Byfield added, “Those games are over with. You can’t look back at those games. It’s just on to the next one, that’s our focus.”

Doughty pointed out that the Kings need to wear down the Avalanche, something they struggled to do in the high altitude of Denver. “I don’t think we’re creating enough Grade A chances,” he said. “They’re statistically one of the best teams in the neutral zone. So for us to beat them, we’ve got to wear them down in the D zone, make them tired and score goals that way. We haven’t done that enough.”

The first round has been a notorious hurdle for the Kings, with a playoff record of 9-27 over the last dozen seasons. They’ve cycled through various management and coaching changes, yet the results have remained disheartening. Smith, currently serving as interim coach, is acutely aware that a playoff sweep would not bode well for his future.

“There’s no quit in there,” Smith said of the Kings’ locker room. “We’ll get reset with practice [Saturday], and I think you’re going to see our best effort. Now we’ve got to make a few changes and see if we can spark something.” With their season hanging in the balance, the Kings will either find a way to extend their playoff run or face another long summer ahead.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.