Rookie Recap: Kings 4, Avalanche 0

The Colorado Avalanche dropped its first game of the 2021 Arizona Rookie Faceoff on Friday, losing 4-0 to the Los Angeles Kings at Ice Den Scottsdale.
Los Angeles found the back of the net twice in the first period, scoring early and late in the frame. Martin Chromiak found the back of the net 1:07 into game and Samuel Fagemo buried a rebound with 1.5 second left on the clock to double the Kings' lead.
"I think they did a good job getting to the net. I think at times we struggled kind of tying them up in front and I think they got a lot of chances in and around our net, which is something we can clean up for next game," said forward Alex Newhook. "First game as group, so there's definitely a few things we can clean up. I think we had a few good chances too which we could have buried, myself included. Maybe next game they'll go in and get a win next one."

Many of the skaters on Los Angeles' roster played for the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League last year while it was the first time the Colorado rookies competed as a group after practicing together for the past week at the Avalanche's development camp.
"I thought it was a little sloppy, obviously the Kings, a lot of those guys we saw last year in the American League," said Colorado Eagles head coach Greg Cronin. "Ultimately you are trying to get some visibility out of your players, particularly the young kids that are kind of fresh faces… At times (Sampo) Ranta was visible because of his size and his skating, Newhook, (Shane) Bowers at times, I thought (Justin) Barron and Bo (Byram) played well. We always try and tell the players here is a herd of people on the ice, you got to try and separate from the herd. I didn't think there was a lot of that tonight."
For Byram, it was his first game since March 25 when he suffered an injury with the Avalanche against the Vegas Golden Knights.
"I think it's been since March or April or so, so it was nice to definitely be in a competitive atmosphere again and play a game," said Byram. "I think it's tough you got to knock a bit of rust of. I felt pretty good, I felt like I had my legs, so it was fun."
The 20-year-old defenseman wore the captain's C on his jersey, leading the group of Avalanche rookies. He has the most NHL experience on Colorado's roster, having played 19 games with the Avs in 2020-21.
"It's pretty cool, I think anytime you are the captain of a team it's a huge honor and also a huge responsibility," Byram said of his leadership role. "I just try to be open and inclusive to everybody I feel like I am a pretty happy-go-lucky guy, so just try to include everybody, be positive and hope to help everybody enjoy the game because it can be stressful and a lot of pressure at times. That's kind of how I approach things, I know there's different ways, but I am who I am, so I try to show that through my leadership abilities."
Goaltender Justus Annunen played the entire contest for the Avalanche and stopped 43-of-47 shots.
"I think he is a great goalie. He's been around, I got to meet him last year and see him in the A a bit last year," Newhook said of Annunen. "I think he is a great goalie. I think we hung him out to dry a little bit tonight, but he's got great potential, I think he is a great guy to have in our system and he's going to be great down the road."
The Avalanche will have a practice day on Saturday before continuing the tournament on Sunday at 5 p.m. MT versus the Anaheim Ducks. Colorado concludes the Rookie Faceoff against the San Jose Sharks at 10 a.m. MT on Monday.

LINE COMBINATIONS

Based on start of the game
15 Shane Bowers - 18 Alex Newhook - 27 Oskar Olausson
75 Sampo Ranta - 63 Andreas Wingerli - 74 Alex Beaucage
93 Jean-Luc Foudy - 53 Jack O'Brien - 68 Callahan Burke
64 Benjamin Tardif - 51 Ryan Hofer - 86 Sasha Mutala
4 Bowen Byram - 84 Nate Clurman
62 Mitchell Smith - 72 Justin Barron
89 Nicolas Savoie - 55 Rhett Rhinehart
60 Justus Annunen
50 Trent Miner

Los Angeles Kings 4 at Colorado Avalanche 0 - FINAL

Friday, September 17, 2021 - Ice Den Scottsdale
Goals by Period
Los Angeles 2 1 1 - 4
Colorado 0 0 0 - 0

1st Period-2, Los Angeles, Chromiak 1 (Kaliyev, Byfield), 1:07. 2, Los Angeles, Fagemo 1 (Durzi, Madden), 19:58. Penalties-Bowers COL (tripping), 7:05; McNelly La (cross-checking), 13:01; Savoie Col (slashing), 18:15; McNelly La (tripping), 18:15.

2nd Period-3, Los Angeles, Byfield 1 (Chromiak), 12:35. Penalties-McNelly La (cross-checking), 6:24; Dudas La (holding), 14:37.

3rd Period-4, Los Angeles, Madden 1 (Dudas, Fagemo), 14:04. Penalties-34 La (slashing), 7:07; 50 La (high-sticking, double minor), 9:15; Burke Col (interference), 10:02; Newhook Col (high-sticking), 10:44; Spence La (tripping), 11:31; Col (too many men), 19:47.

Shots on Goal-Los Angeles - 47. Colorado - 23.