Kempe, Danault each score twice as Kings bury Avs to extend streak
Kings goaltender Joonas Korpisalo swats the puck away during the third period of their 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, left, has the puck sail past his helmet and between him and defenseman Devon Toews for a goal for Kings right wing Adrian Kempe during the first period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings center Anze Kopitar celebrates after teammate Adrian Kempe, not shown, scored a goal during the first period of their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, front, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings defenseman Jordan Spence, front, fights for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche center Lars Eller during the first period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, right, stops a shot off the stick of Kings left wing Kevin Fiala during the first period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, left, has his shot deflected by Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during the first period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson, right, collects the puck as Kings right wing Gabe Vilardi pursues during the first period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson, front, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, back left, and defenseman Devon Toews protect the net during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings center Zack MacEwen, right, reaches past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt, center, to shove the puck toward goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, left, tries to control the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Andrew Cogliano and defenseman Bowen Byram, right, cover during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings center Phillip Danault, right, redirects the puck toward Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings head coach Todd McLellan looks on from the bench during the second period of their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings center Blake Lizotte, left, looks to collect the puck as Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher defends during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, left, pushes Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson, center, into Colorado left wing Artturi Lehkonen as they fight for control of the puck by the net during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings center Phillip Danault, right, checks Colorado Avalanche center Evan Rodrigues as he passes the puck during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar looks on from the bench during the second period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, center, fires the puck between Colorado Avalanche center Andrew Cogliano, left, and right wing Logan O’Connor during the second period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Matt Nieto, left, is checked while trying to collect the puck by Kings left wing Trevor Moore during the third period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings defenseman Matt Roy, front left, clears Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, front right, from in front of Kings goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, back left, during the third period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings center Phillip Danault, back right, celebrates his goal with right wing Viktor Arvidsson, back left, and defensemen Sean Walker, back center, and Jordan Spence during the third period of their 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver. Danault finished with two goals. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, right, stops a shot off the stick of Colorado Avalanche center Denis Malgin, left, during the third period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, left, looks to the puck next to Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen during the third period on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Kings defenseman Sean Walker, front, clears the puck from in front of goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (obscured) during the third period of their 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER — The common theme for the Kings during their season-best five-game winning isn’t hard to figure out – balanced production.
So many are stepping up.
Adrian Kempe and Phillip Danault each scored twice Thursday night as the Kings rolled to a 5-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. Gabe Vilardi also added a goal and Anze Kopitar had three assists for the Kings, who remain tied with Vegas for the top spot in the Western Conference. No team in the West has been hotter than the Kings since the All-Star break, going 10-2-1.
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 28 shots.
“Everybody found a way to contribute,” said Kings coach Todd McLellan, who saw 10 different players contribute at least a point. “We played with a high level of pace, which you have to against this team. Outstanding goaltending when we needed it and some timely scoring. So as we leave here, we’re happy with the group as a whole, not just two or three players, but the whole group.”
Evan Rodrigues and Nathan MacKinnon scored for the slumping Avalanche, who are 1-3-1 over their last five games. MacKinnon’s goal extended his home points streak to 15 games.
“Feel like every mistake we made they scored on,” MacKinnon said. “It was a weird game.”
For the Kings, it was a game of answers to keep the Avalanche at bay, starting with Kempe scoring 24 seconds into the third period to make it 3-1. And then, when MacKinnon scored early in the third, Danault responded 15 seconds later to restore the two-goal lead.
Danault also sealed things with an empty-net goal, which was his 100th career score.
“I liked the team game,” Kopitar said. “I don’t think we gave up a whole lot against a really good team.”
Looking out of sorts and trailing 2-0 in the second period, the Avalanche found a spark through a spray of ice. Several Colorado players pushed Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson after he sent a mist of ice at goaltender Alexandar Georgiev following a save. Sean Walker joined in and knocked down Cale Makar to draw a roughing call.
And while the Avalanche didn’t convert on the penalty, the play did provide a boost. Soon after, Rodrigues tipped in a shot to make it 2-1. MacKinnon had a chance to tie it moments later on a breakaway, only to send a wrist shot wide.
“We should’ve approached this like a playoff game tonight,” Makar said. “For us, I think we just have to keep stressing patience.”
There was a concerning moment for the Kings in the second period after forward Kevin Fiala collided with Andrew Cogliano at the blue line. Fiala, who leads the team in scoring, was helped off by a trainer and into the locker room. Fiala returned and assisted on Danault’s goal.
Kings acquire Zack MacEwen from Flyers for Brendan Lemieux
Kopitar’s three assists give him 56 career points against the Avalanche, which is the second most among active skaters. Blake Wheeler leads the way with 58 points against Colorado.
Asked how high of level Kopitar’s playing at right now, Kempe just laughed.
“He’s been playing at that level for 17 years,” Kempe said. “He shows up every night.”
ICE CHIPS
Kings forward Trevor Moore was activated from injured reserve before the game. … Kings forward Quinton Byfield extended his assist streak to five games. … The Kings improved to 2-0 against Colorado this season. … The banged-up Avalanche remain without goaltender Pavel Francouz, forward Darren Helm, captain Gabriel Landeskog and defensemen Erik Johnson, Josh Manson and Kurtis MacDermid.
UP NEXT
The Kings begin a seven-game homestand against Nashville on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
