Kopitar Breaks Kings Assist Record in Victory over Avalanche

At 14:22, Moore extended the lead to 3-1 with a sharp-angle shot.

Then, at 18:53, Drew Doughty sealed the deal with an empty-net goal, making the final score 4-1.

“You could tell which team was the rested team in the third period, because they started to put the heat on us,” commented Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. “They kind of took the game over there.” 

The scoring started with Manson putting Colorado ahead 1-0 at 12:28 of the first period with a wrist shot from the right circle.

Byfield then equalized to 1-1 at 9:03 of the second period, capitalizing on Mikey Anderson’s shot from the crease.

Byfield’s six goals in 21 games mark a new NHL career-high, having previously scored five goals in 40 games as a rookie in 2021-22.

Coach Todd McLellan praised Byfield’s growth, stating: “Now he’s confident to go in there. He has the ability to stand in and take a blow and still get a stick on a puck. Those were things he didn’t have when he first got here, not because he couldn’t do them, just he hadn’t experienced the difference between junior and the NHL.”

NOTES: Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon extended his point streak to eight games with an assist (two goals, nine assists). Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen also continued his five-game streak, recording his sixth assist. Kempe had two assists as well.