Colorado Avalanche host Los Angeles Kings in NHL Playoffs opener

The Western Conference first-round series begins with the top-seeded Avalanche hosting the Kings on Sunday.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:26am

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp geometric shapes in shades of blue, red, and gold representing the action on the ice.The opening game of the Avalanche-Kings playoff series promises an intense, high-stakes clash of contrasting styles and strategies.Los Angeles Today

The Colorado Avalanche, the top seed in the Western Conference, will host the Los Angeles Kings in the opening game of their first-round NHL playoff series on Sunday. The Avalanche went 3-0 against the Kings during the regular season, including a 4-2 win on March 2. Colorado is led by stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, while the Kings will rely on Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams with contrasting regular season performances, as the Avalanche dominated the Central Division with 55 wins, while the Kings squeezed into the playoffs as a wild card team. The outcome of this series could set the tone for the rest of the Western Conference playoffs.

The details

The Avalanche are heavy favorites heading into the series, having gone 26-9-6 at home during the regular season. Colorado also had the league's best power play, converting on 18% of their opportunities. The Kings, on the other hand, have been strong on the road, going 20-10-11 away from home. Los Angeles will need to find a way to slow down the Avalanche's high-powered offense led by MacKinnon and Necas.

  • The series opener is scheduled for Sunday, April 16 at 3 p.m. EDT in Denver.
  • The Avalanche and Kings met three times during the regular season, with Colorado winning all three matchups.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

The star center for the Colorado Avalanche, MacKinnon had 5 goals and 5 assists in the team's last 10 games of the regular season.

Artemi Panarin

The veteran winger for the Los Angeles Kings led the team with 28 goals and 56 assists during the regular season.

Adrian Kempe

The Kings' leading goal scorer in the last 10 games of the regular season, Kempe found the back of the net 10 times during that stretch.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for their speed and skill. They are a very talented team, but we believe we can match them and advance to the next round.”

— Anze Kopitar, Kings Captain

“Our focus is on playing our game and not worrying about the opponent. If we execute our system, we like our chances against anyone.”

— Jared Bednar, Avalanche Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this series will face the winner of the Dallas Stars vs. Seattle Kraken series in the Western Conference semifinals.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Avalanche and Kings features a classic clash of styles, with Colorado's high-powered offense taking on Los Angeles' stingy defense. The outcome could hinge on which team is able to impose its will and play to its strengths.