Colorado Avalanche sweep Los Angeles Kings to secure second round spot
The top-seeded Colorado Avalanche have swept the Los Angeles Kings out of the Stanley Cup playoffs following a comprehensive 5-1 victory in Game 4.
Nathan MacKinnon registered two goals and an assist as the Presidents’ Trophy winners comfortably secured their progression in Los Angeles.
The prolific forward has now produced his 15th career playoff game with three or more points, leaving him just three games shy of the franchise record.
Third-period strikes from Nicolas Roy and Devon Toews, alongside a Cale Makar effort, completed the scoring for the visitors.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood was rarely troubled, making 24 saves to confirm the emphatic series sweep.
Kopitar bows out after glittering career
The defeat marked the final professional appearance for legendary Kings captain Anze Kopitar.
The Slovenian centre had previously announced his intention to retire at the conclusion of the current campaign.
As the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, the two-time Selke Trophy winner departs having led the Californian outfit to Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014.
A passionate home crowd offered repeated standing ovations during the veteran’s final two shifts on the ice.
Rest advantage secured for next round
Colorado will now await the victor of the heavyweight first-round series between the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild.
With that matchup currently tied heading into Game 5, the reigning regular-season champions are guaranteed at least five consecutive days of rest.
This downtime will prove valuable for a roster that was forced to play Sunday’s fixture without injured defenceman Josh Manson.
Nick Blankenburg stepped up to make his playoff debut in Manson’s absence, slotting comfortably alongside Brent Burns on the blue line.
