NHL: Avalanche ruin debut of Kings interim coach D.J. Smith

Martin Necas and Gabriel Landeskog each had a goal and two assists as the visiting Colorado Avalanche defeated a short-handed Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Monday night.

Nathan MacKinnon contributed a goal and an assist, setting up Devon Toews for the tiebreaking goal with 4:55 left in the third period. Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 19 saves as Colorado extended its winning streak to four of the past five games, maintaining the NHL’s best record.

For the Kings, Angus Booth scored in his first NHL game, and Brandt Clarke also tallied. Goalie Anton Forsberg stopped 35 shots. The loss marked Los Angeles’ sixth defeat in seven games (1-5-1) under interim coach D.J. Smith, who replaced Jim Hiller following his firing on Sunday.

MacKinnon entered the right circle with speed before sending a perfect pass to Toews, who redirected it into the net for a 3-2 lead at 15:05 of the third period. Necas sealed the win with an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining.

The Avalanche struck early when the Kings turned the puck over entering the Colorado zone. Necas fed MacKinnon for a one-timer from the left hashmarks, giving Colorado a 1-0 lead at 4:27 of the first period. Landeskog extended the lead to 2-0 with a one-timer through traffic at 10:13.

Los Angeles cut the deficit on the power play after Josh Manson was called for tripping at 17:14. Clarke scored six seconds into the man advantage with a wrist shot from just inside the blue line. Booth tied the game 2-2 by redirecting a Brian Dumoulin pass at 8:32 of the second period.

The Kings called up Booth, 21, and forward Jared Wright from Ontario of the American Hockey League, joining forward Kenny Connors, who was recalled the day before. All three made their NHL debuts due to absences from Quinton Byfield (upper body), Trevor Moore (illness), Drew Doughty (lower body), and Darcy Kuemper (illness). Additional long-term absences included Joel Armia (upper body), Andrei Kuzmenko (meniscus), and Kevin Fiala (fractured leg).

—Field Level Media/Reuters