How The Kings Should Line Match Against MacKinnon And the Avalanche
Line-matching is an important strategy in playoff hockey, and that will be especially true for the Los Angeles Kings against the Colorado Avalanche. Here's how the Kings should allocate the lines.
Strategy and coaching decisions are a big factor when the playoffs roll around, and line-matching plays a crucial role in taking advantage of your opponent. As massive underdogs against the Colorado Avalanche , the Los Angeles Kings and interim head coach D. J.
Smith will need to take line-matching seriously and give it careful consideration. Offensively, the Avalanche's top-three forward lines can really inflict damage. With Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas on the top line, Brock Nelson on line No.
2, and Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog listed on the third line, Los Angeles will need to spread out its defensive expertise. So Smith should be asking himself, 'Who will be matching up with MacKinnon, Nelson and Kadri? ' Luckily for the Kings, especially the centers on the team, they thrive in a shutdown assignment.
Colorado's top-three centers are met with Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield , and newcomer Scott Laughton. Laughton will likely get the assignment of looking after Kadri when the two third lines meet on the ice. Kadri and Laughton both share a nasty and physical edge to their individual games, which could create a fiery matchup.