Nic Roy scored 7:44 into Game 2’s overtime on Tuesday night to lift the Avalanche to a 2-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena, capping off a long, wonky game between the two clubs.
The game-winning tally from one of the Avs’ big trade-deadline acquisitions put an end to a more than three-and-a-half-hour-long game. It gave Colorado its first 2-0 series lead since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Just like Game 1, it took just two goals to get the win. But the Avs had to work hard for them.
“I liked our mentality again tonight. Similar to the other night, it’s hard checking, hard to produce scoring chances,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “We know they’re going to check hard and play the right way and they’ve been consistent at that all year and so have we.”
Roy capitalized on a loose puck in front of the net to get the winner. The play started on the stick of Nazem Kadri. The Avs’ third-line center was mostly quiet in this one, but he made a strong play along the boards to sift a pass through to Josh Manson on his backhand. Manson loaded up and shot it, and it was blocked in front by defenseman Brandt Clarke.
That was when Roy got to the puck first, shoveling it in on his backhand before jumping into the glass to celebrate with his teammates.
“He’s a really smart player, awesome guy,” MacKinnon said of Roy. “[Joel Kiviranta] almost scored right before him, and then he found a way to get it done. It might not be everyone’s first pick, but it takes a full team to win in the playoffs, and everyone’s been really good so far.”
Scott Wedgewood was excellent in goal yet again, this time stopping 24 of 25 shots to secure yet another win. Wedgewood stopped a penalty shot and all three Kings shots he faced in OT.
“He’s stopping the puck. He’s got a great attitude every day. Really cool story,” MacKinnon said. “Obviously, bounced around a little bit and found a home here. Fans love him. We love Wedgie as well.”
Gabe Landeskog scored Colorado’s only goal in regulation, which came with just 3:35 remaining to tie it up after Artemi Panarin put L.A. ahead just a few minutes earlier.
Landeskog, who spent some time with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas on the top line, took a pass from Necas that went through the legs of Forsberg to even the score. That set up what was an intense ending to the game, going into overtime.
Both teams played a far more physical brand of hockey than they did in Game 1. The first period had tons of after-the-whistle scrums, most notably halfway through, in the moments after Necas took an open-ice hit from Mikey Anderson. When the play ended, Brett Kulak went after Anderson and it resulted in a power play for L.A. The Avs killed it off, ending the game 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 0-for-3 on the power play.
The Avalanche’s netminder has been absolutely incredible in this series. They needed him a lot more in Game 2 than they did in the first game, and Wedgewood stepped up in a big way.
There was no bigger save than the penalty shot on Quinton Byfield. Wedgewood wasn’t always great in shootouts during the regular season, but he read the Byfield move, got his glove out, and made the save while falling back. And that was just one of many big stops.
At no point did it feel like he was out of position. The goalie has been seeing plays, reading the road team’s next move, and always seems ready for their next opportunity.
The Kings’ game plan is all but set after two games. They’re playing with four men back on nearly every Avalanche rush, and when they get the puck in the defensive zone, they instantly chip it up the boards and out of the zone without any real attempt at a rush breakout.
The Avs are the more talented team. They’re faster. They have more skill. So they’re getting looks, but they’re far more limited than what they’re used to.
With that in mind, they have to absolutely stop passing up opportunities to shoot. The most glaring play was a 3-on-1 in the second period featuing Landeskog, Necas, and Cale Makar. And after Makar gave it to Necas, he tried to thread it through Anderson to Landeskog despite having a clear look at the goal. Unnecessary.
That was just one of many. This has to be the biggest lesson the Avalanche takes away from these two home games. I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re fortunate to have won both of these games, but it certainly could’ve been a 1-1 series had a bounce here or there gone the other way. And a big reason why that didn’t happen has to do with Wedgewood standing on his head. They have to shoot more, especially when it’s the decision that makes the most sense.
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