I had been looking forward to shooting the Kings, since they are having a pretty good year and didn't visit Denver up to this point. I focused on star Anze Kopitar (looking like Darth Vader with those dark circles around his creepy eyes) and former Av Ryan Smyth (below). Both players are having good years.
Los Angeles Kings left wing Ryan Smyth (94) attempts to wrap the puck past Colorado Avalanche center Ryan O'Reilly (37) as goalie Craig Anderson (41) minds the net during a regular season game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
The Av's had a nice 3-1 lead going into the 3rd period, but of course played only defense for the final period of regulation and gave up the tying goal with only a few minutes left in regulation. It almost seemed like both teams wanted to go to a shootout, and the Av's won by shutting down both Kopitar and Smyth while the Av's Peter Mueller and Chris Stewart each scored.
Ryan Smyth celebrates a first period goal that wasn't enough, as Paul Stastny stumbles over his own goalie Semyon Varlamov looking dejected, confused.
18 year old Ryan Nugent-Hopkins proves that hyphenated last names can be cool. That kid looks young.
