LOS ANGELES — The Colorado Avalanche are still ticked off about last season’s end. They played like it on opening night. 

It was a slow burn, but when the Avalanche got rolling, the Los Angeles Kings could not slow them. It was the usual suspects on offense who provided the fireworks, but that lingering anger ignited the momentum for Colorado.

The Avalanche blasted the Kings 4-1 late Tuesday in front of a sold-out crowd at Crypto.com Arena.

At the end of the first period, Avs defenseman Josh Manson lined up Warren Foegele and hammered him at the red line. Jeff Malott came in to defend his teammate’s honor, but all he accomplished was to anger the Avalanche even more. Malott’s UFC-style takedown of Manson drew the ire of Gabriel Landeskog, and Colorado would get its revenge later. 

The offensive onslaught began early in the second after Malott came out of the box. Nathan MacKinnon, who was frustrated all night by the subpar California ice, entered the offensive zone with some speed. That’s never a good visual for the opposition. 

All eyes, per usual, were on MacKinnon when he fed a wide-open Martin Necas in front. Fans and coaches have been yelling at Necas to shoot the puck more often and he obliged, beating Darcy Kuemper up high 48 seconds into the period. The show was just beginning. 

A few minutes later it was the fourth line getting in on the action, showing the Avs’ depth. A nice forecheck by Joel Kiviranta gave Sam Malinski a ton of time at the left point to corral a rolling puck. With Kiviranta at the net providing a screen, Malinski again beat Kuemper, who never saw it.  

Then, a little over 34 minutes into the season, Makar’s magic made its first appearance. Taking a pass from MacKinnon at the point, Makar faked like he would shoot and Malott took the bait. Makar cut to the net and Artturi Lehkonen cleaned up the garbage from his home at the top of the crease.  

Avalanche, 3-0.

The team is still angry and wants to keep that chip on its shoulder. 

“We didn’t like the way (last season) ended,” Bednar said in Los Angeles prior to puck drop. “We want to do everything in our power to make sure it doesn’t end the same way. We like the team we had, especially (from) the deadline on last year, and we didn’t get the job done. It’s not the first time we haven’t gotten it done. But you know, there’s been years where we responded, like 2022, and I liked what I saw through the course of the season. It doesn’t guarantee you anything. You have to go and earn it. I think our guys are in the right headspace to go and do that.” 

It looked like it Tuesday — with 81 more to go.

And if opening night was any indication, tack on another 16.

Avalanche 4, Kings 1

What happened: The Avalanche silenced the LA crowd in the second period with three straight goals on their way to a convincing opening night win.

What went right: Jared Bednar wants Martin Necas to shoot the puck more and Necas’ two snipes on Tuesday night are the reason why. “He’s been ripping the puck all exhibition from the first game,” Bednar said after the win. With an assist on Necas’ first goal, Nathan MacKinnon became all-time points leader for players in an Avalanche sweater, passing Joe Sakic.

What went wrong: Very little. While the Avalanche weren’t at their best early in the game, they didn’t give the Kings much room to gain any momentum. A huge hit by Josh Manson at the end of the first the road team and the Kings tried to intimidate the Avalanche late in the third, but it didn’t really work. “Manson’s a guy that’s going to step up and play like that and then he owns the consequences,” Cale Makar said after the game.

Between the pipes: Scott Wedgewood was very solid, only giving up a goal late in the game on a two-man advantage for the Kings. He finished with 24 saves on 25 shots.

What’s next: The Avalanche will host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday at Ball Arena for their home opener.