Following a dominant performance two days ago, the Los Angeles Kings came back down to Earth, falling 5-2 at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche on Monday evening at Ball Arena. Taking their third loss of the last four contests, Los Angeles fell to 16-13-9.

Momentum of a six-goal drubbing of the cross-town Anaheim Ducks ultimately failed to carry over as the Avalanche claimed the season series with their second victory over the Kings this season. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar helped Colorado pull away in the final minutes of the game, turning a 3-2 contest into a 5-2 one and shutting down any hopes of a Los Angeles rally.

Jack Drury’s goal in the opening period helped the Avalanche claim the early lead as goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood prevented the Kings from finding the net in the opening 20 minutes. Corey Perry finally managed to break through and even the score at one in the second, delivering his second power play goal of the season.

Colorado proved ready with a counter punch, with Martin Necas and Brock Nelson firing a pair of goals past Anton Forsberg to create a 3-1 advantage. Forsberg, starting his fifth consecutive game as the injured Darcy Kuemper continues to work his way closer to a return, saved 21 of 25 shots.

The 33-year-old is now 6-6-3 this year, having alternated between wins and losses since December 18. He fell one short of his season-high five goals conceded on Monday.

Joal Armia helped the Kings cut the deficit to one less than five minutes into the third period, cashing in his ninth score of the year. The goal also happened to mark his league-leading fourth shorthanded score of the year.

Armia is only the fourth Kings’ skater to score shorthanded four or more times within the team’s first 38 games of a season. Since his NHL debut in 2014, only Brad Marchand (23) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (23) have more shorthanded goals than Armia’s 21.

Captain Anze Kopitar appeared in his 1,488th career game in the loss, breaking a tie with Wayne Gretzky for sole possession of the 27th most games played in NHL history. It was his final career regular-season appearance at Ball Arena.

With their final game of 2025 in the books, Los Angeles will welcome the new year on Thursday by hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning. Looking to shake off a rough stretch of offensive play, the job won’t be any easier against a Lightning squad (22-13-3, 2nd in Atlantic Division) that has allowed the third-fewest goals in the league thus far.

Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. PT.