Faceoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT)
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV/Streaming: TNT / MAX
The Avalanche enter Game 4 with a commanding 3-0 series lead and the opportunity to complete a sweep on the road, having taken Game 1 (5-2), Game 2 (3-1), and a gritty 4-2 victory in Game 3 on April 24. Colorado has controlled the series with superior speed, elite special teams (7-for-14 on the power play), and dominant even-strength play, outshooting the Kings 112-87 overall. Los Angeles has shown occasional pushback in stretches but has been plagued by defensive lapses, poor puck management, and an inability to solve Colorado’s goaltending.
Team Records
Colorado Avalanche: 54-25-3 overall (2nd seed in Western Conference / Central Division), 29-10-2 on the road in the regular season. Playoff record: 3-0.
Los Angeles Kings: 43-33-6 overall (7th seed in Western Conference via play-in), 22-16-3 at home in the regular season. Playoff record: 0-3.
Recent Team Forms
Avalanche (last 10 games overall): 8-2, averaging 3.8 goals per game, 33.2 shots on goal, 27.4 hits, while allowing 2.6 goals per game. Goaltender Justus Annunen has a .927 save percentage in the series. In the series: relentless forecheck and transition game have overwhelmed Los Angeles, with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen combining for 14 points.
Kings (last 10 games overall): 5-5, averaging 2.9 goals per game, 30.1 shots on goal, while allowing 3.4 goals per game. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper has a .904 save percentage in the series. In the series: competitive in Game 3 until late but unable to sustain pressure or generate quality chances; they are 0-2 at home in the playoffs.
Injury Report
Avalanche:
Artturi Lehkonen (upper body): Probable. Limited in Game 3 but full participant in morning skate and expected to play on the third line.
Valeri Nichushkin (lower body): Day-to-day / game-time decision. Missed Game 3 but skated with the team today.
Goaltender Justus Annunen confirmed to start after a 29-save effort in Game 3.
Rest of roster healthy, including top-pair defenseman Cale Makar and captain Nathan MacKinnon.
Kings:
Drew Doughty (upper body): Questionable / game-time decision. Has been a limited participant all series and missed morning skate; his physicality and minutes are critical.
Phillip Danault (lower body): Out (missed last two games).
Trevor Moore (concussion protocol): Out.
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper confirmed to start.
Doughty’s status is the biggest X-factor for Los Angeles’ defensive structure—if he sits, the Kings’ blue line becomes even more vulnerable to Colorado’s speed.
Key Player Matchups
Nathan MacKinnon / Mikko Rantanen (COL) vs. Anze Kopitar / Adrian Kempe: MacKinnon (series-high 6 points) and Rantanen have dominated transition and the rush. Kopitar’s shutdown line must limit their zone entries.
Cale Makar (COL) vs. Los Angeles top defensive pair: Makar’s offensive dynamism (1G-4A in series) has created constant threats; the Kings will try to match him physically if Doughty plays.
Justus Annunen (COL) vs. Darcy Kuemper (LAK): Annunen has been stellar with timely glove saves; Kuemper has been under siege and needs a bounce-back performance to extend the series.
Physicality / Forecheck: Avalanche’s Logan O’Connor and Andrew Cogliano vs. Kings’ Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere. Colorado has won the hits battle 89-66.
Special Teams: Avalanche power play (7-for-14) vs. Kings penalty kill (struggling at 6-for-11); Los Angeles’ power play has gone 3-for-13 and must improve.
Series History
These Western Conference rivals have met in the playoffs four previous times (most recently 2023, when Colorado won in six). The Avalanche hold a 3-1 all-time playoff series edge. Regular-season 2025-26 meetings were split 2-2, but Colorado has been markedly superior in this postseason, outscoring Los Angeles by an average of 2.3 goals per game.
Betting Trends
Avalanche trends: 6-4 ATS as road favorites; 3-0 ATS in the series.
Kings trends: 4-6 ATS as home underdogs; 0-3 ATS in the playoffs.
Over/Under: Over 5.5 has hit in 46 of 82 Avalanche games (56%). Series games have averaged 5.8 total goals, with overs hitting in all three contests.
Home/road notes: Avalanche are 29-10-2 away and have already won Game 3 in Los Angeles; Kings are 22-16-3 at home but have been outplayed in both home losses.
Game Odds
Colorado Avalanche – 170
Los Angeles Kings 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 25, 2026
