Avalanche and Kings Kick Off NHL Playoff Series

The Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings will face off in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:56am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, breaking down a hockey game between two teams into sharp, overlapping geometric planes, representing the players' movements and the puck's trajectory through a cubist, deconstructed visual style.A cubist interpretation of the upcoming playoff clash between the Avalanche and Kings, capturing the dynamic energy and intensity of the matchup.Los Angeles Today

The Colorado Avalanche will open the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings, with the NHL releasing the full schedule and broadcast details for the first-round series. The two teams will meet in a best-of-seven matchup, with the first two games taking place at Ball Arena in Denver before the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.

Why it matters

The Avalanche are looking to make a deep playoff run after a strong regular season, while the Kings are hoping to pull off an upset and advance in the postseason. This first-round matchup features two talented teams with passionate fan bases, setting the stage for an exciting and hard-fought series.

The details

The series will begin on Sunday, April 19th, with Game 1 at 1 p.m. MT in Denver. The Avalanche will then host Game 2 on Tuesday, April 21st at 8 p.m. MT. The series will then shift to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday, April 23rd at 8 p.m. MT and Sunday, April 26th at 2:30 p.m. MT, respectively. If necessary, Games 5, 6, and 7 will be played on Wednesday, April 29th, Friday, May 1st, and Sunday, May 3rd, with the locations and times to be determined.

  • The series will begin on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
  • Game 2 will be played on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
  • Game 3 will be played on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
  • Game 4 will be played on Sunday, April 26, 2026.
  • Potential Games 5, 6, and 7 will be played on April 29, May 1, and May 3, 2026, respectively.

The players

Colorado Avalanche

A professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, and a member of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Los Angeles Kings

A professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California, and a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a tough series against a very talented Avalanche team, but we're ready for the challenge.”

— Anze Kopitar, Captain, Los Angeles Kings

“Our goal is to make a deep playoff run and bring the Stanley Cup back to Colorado. We're excited to get started against the Kings.”

— Nathan MacKinnon, Center, Colorado Avalanche

What’s next

The winner of this first-round series will advance to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they will face the winner of the series between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Avalanche and Kings promises to be an exciting and hard-fought series, with both teams looking to make a deep playoff run and potentially capture the Stanley Cup. Fans of both franchises will be eagerly anticipating the start of the series and the chance to see their team advance to the next round.