Colorado Avalanche to face Los Angeles Kings in first round of Stanley Cup playoffs

The Avalanche secured the Central Division title, Western Conference title, and President's Trophy in the regular season.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:24am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The high-stakes first-round playoff matchup between the dominant Colorado Avalanche and the resilient Los Angeles Kings promises an intense, fast-paced series.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche will face off against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. This will be the third playoff meeting between the two teams, with the Avalanche defeating the Kings in the Western Conference Finals in 2001 and 2002. The Avalanche are led by captain Gabriel Landeskog, forward Nathan MacKinnon, and defenseman Cale Makar, who are aiming to win their second Stanley Cup championship in five seasons.

Why it matters

The Avalanche have been the NHL's dominant team all season, securing the Central Division title, Western Conference title, and President's Trophy. They are looking to translate their regular season success into a deep playoff run and a second Stanley Cup championship in five years.

The details

The Avalanche and Kings have met in the playoffs twice before, with the Avalanche winning both series in 7 games in the 2001 and 2002 Western Conference Finals. This will be the first time the two teams have met in the first round of the playoffs. The Avalanche are led by their core group of players, including captain Gabriel Landeskog, forward Nathan MacKinnon, and defenseman Cale Makar, who are aiming to win their second Stanley Cup championship since 2022.

  • The regular season has just concluded.
  • Game 1 of the first-round series is scheduled for Sunday, April 19.
  • The full first-round schedule has yet to be announced by the NHL.

The players

Gabriel Landeskog

The captain of the Colorado Avalanche, who is looking to lead the team to a second Stanley Cup championship.

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche's star forward, who led the NHL in goals this season and is a leading candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP.

Cale Makar

The Avalanche's elite defenseman, who is among the top conversations for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best blueliner.

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What’s next

The full first-round schedule between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings has yet to be announced by the NHL. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, with the puck drop time at Ball Arena in Denver still to be determined.

The takeaway

The Colorado Avalanche have been the NHL's dominant team all season, and they are now looking to translate that regular season success into a deep playoff run and a second Stanley Cup championship in five seasons. With their core group of players, including Landeskog, MacKinnon, and Makar, the Avalanche are poised to make a strong push for the Stanley Cup.