Avalanche Overwhelm Kings in First-Round Playoff Clash

Colorado's NHL-leading regular season dominance carries over as they cruise past Los Angeles in the opening round.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, with sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant blue, green, and red colors capturing the intensity of the playoff matchup.The Avalanche's dominant first-round victory over the Kings showcases the gap between the Western Conference's elite and those still rebuilding.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche, fresh off a 121-point regular season campaign that led the NHL, proved too much for the Los Angeles Kings in their first-round playoff matchup. Led by Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon and a deep, talented roster, the Avalanche dispatched the Kings in five games to advance to the second round.

Why it matters

The Avalanche's decisive victory over the Kings underscores the gap between the Western Conference's elite teams and those still rebuilding. Colorado's blend of top-end talent, depth, and elite special teams proved too much for a Kings squad still finding its footing, dashing their hopes of winning a playoff series for the first time in five years.

The details

The Avalanche swept the regular-season series 3-0-0 against the Kings, outscoring them 13-5 in the process. That dominance carried over into the playoffs, as Colorado's high-powered offense and stifling defense overwhelmed Los Angeles. Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche's superstar center, led the way with 10 points in the series, while the team's depth players like Nazem Kadri and Martin Necas also made significant contributions.

  • The series began on Sunday, April 20 in Denver.
  • Game 2 took place on Tuesday, April 22 in Denver.
  • The series shifted to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday, April 24 and Sunday, April 26.
  • If necessary, Game 5 would have been played on April 29 in Denver, with Game 6 on May 1 in Los Angeles and Game 7 on May 3 back in Denver.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche's superstar center, who won the Maurice Richard Trophy as the NHL's top goal-scorer and recorded 127 points in the regular season.

Nazem Kadri

A key trade deadline acquisition for the Avalanche, Kadri provided depth scoring and edge to Colorado's lineup.

Martin Necas

The Avalanche forward who hit the 100-point mark for the first time in his career this season.

Cale Makar

The Avalanche's perennial Norris Trophy candidate, who forms the best top defensive pairing in the NHL with partner Devon Toews.

D.J. Smith

The head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, who was unable to guide his team past the powerful Avalanche in the first round.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough series against a very talented Avalanche team, but I'm proud of the fight our guys showed. We have some work to do, but this experience will only make us better moving forward.”

— D.J. Smith, Head Coach, Los Angeles Kings

“This is the kind of team we've been building towards. When everyone is clicking and we're playing our game, we're tough to beat. We're excited to keep this momentum going in the next round.”

— Jared Bednar, Head Coach, Colorado Avalanche

What’s next

The Avalanche will face the winner of the series between the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights in the second round.

The takeaway

The Avalanche's dominant first-round victory over the Kings underscores the gap between the Western Conference's elite teams and those still rebuilding. Colorado's blend of top-end talent, depth, and elite special teams proved too much for a Kings squad still finding its footing, dashing their hopes of winning a playoff series for the first time in five years.