Kopitar's final farewell tour off to rough start as Kings stumble

Retiring captain draws a standing ovation but there’s little else for fans to cheer about.

- KEVIN BAXTER

THE KINGS' Anze Kopitar, left, and the Avalanche's Brent Burns battle for position during the first period.

GARY A. VASQUEZ NHLI

For Kings captain Anze Kopitar, Tuesday's NHL season opener was the beginning of the end while for Ken Holland, the team’s first-year general manager, it was the end of the beginning.

For both it was also a night to forget, with the Colorado Avalanche skating through, over and around the Kings in a dominant 4-1 victory built on second-period goals from Martin Necas, Sam Malinski, Artturi Lehkonen and a second Necas score midway through the third.

Kevin Fiala got the Kings’ only score on the team’s third power play of the final period, though the goal, coming with less than five minutes to play, was little more than a murmur of protest. Kopitar picked up his 839th career assist on the play, padding his franchise record and extending his point streak on opening day to eight games.

“That’s a pretty good team,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said afterward. “They did a good job. They outchecked us, they caught us, they disrupted plays, they didn't let us forecheck.