The NHL regular season delivers a Western Conference showdown on December 29, 2025, as the Los Angeles Kings face the Colorado Avalanche in a rematch of recent high-stakes encounters. The Kings, with a balanced but inconsistent attack, seek to upset a dominant Avalanche team that’s riding a wave of victories and boasting one of the league’s best records. Colorado’s offensive firepower and home dominance could overwhelm Los Angeles, but the Kings’ veteran leadership and goaltending provide a path to a competitive game if they capitalize on any Avalanche complacency.
Venue Location
The game will be held at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. This 18,000-capacity venue, located at 1000 Chopper Circle, opened in 1999 and is renowned for its high-altitude advantage, modern amenities, and passionate fanbase that creates a challenging environment for visiting teams.
Puckdrop Is set for 9:00 PM ET (7:00 PM MT for Colorado viewers, 6:00 PM PT for Los Angeles viewers)
Broadcast: Available on ESPN+ nationally, with regional coverage on Altitude Sports for Avalanche markets and FanDuel Sports Network West for Kings markets.
Injury Report
Both teams are managing absences that could affect defensive pairings and forward depth. Reports are as of December 28, 2025, with final statuses pending pre-game updates.
Los Angeles Kings:
Darcy Kuemper (G): Out (upper body). Placed on injured reserve; expected to miss at least until late December, forcing reliance on David Rittich in net.
No other major injuries reported, with key players like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty fully available. The team has not submitted a final report, but depth forwards appear healthy.
Colorado Avalanche:
Logan O’Connor (RW): Out (hip). On injured reserve since early December; expected to be out until at least late December, impacting bottom-six energy and penalty kill.
cbssports.com +1
Valeri Nichushkin (RW): Questionable (undisclosed). Dealing with ongoing issues but could return soon; his absence would limit top-line scoring.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW): Out (knee). Long-term absence since 2022, with no clear return timeline, though progress noted in skating.
No additional key injuries, but the Avalanche have not fully submitted their report. Stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are available.
These injuries may force both teams to adjust lineups, potentially leading to more open play if defensive stability falters.
Player Matchups
This Pacific vs. Central tilt showcases elite talent, with Colorado’s speed testing Los Angeles’ physicality. Key matchups to watch:
Anze Kopitar (LAK C) vs. Nathan MacKinnon (COL C): Kopitar’s two-way mastery and faceoff dominance (55%+) against MacKinnon’s explosive speed and scoring (league-leading points). MacKinnon’s recent three-point game could overwhelm if Kopitar can’t neutralize the rush.
Drew Doughty (LAK D) vs. Cale Makar (COL D): Veteran Doughty’s defensive poise and offensive contributions vs. Makar’s dynamic skating and playmaking (top defenseman points). This blue-line battle could control transitions and power plays.
Adrian Kempe (LAK RW) vs. Devon Toews (COL D): Kempe’s shot volume and speed vs. Toews’ steady defense. Without O’Connor, Toews must step up to contain Kempe’s breakaways.
David Rittich (LAK G) vs. Alexandar Georgiev (COL G): Rittich filling in for Kuemper vs. Georgiev’s consistency. Georgiev’s recent shutout gives Colorado an edge in net.
Colorado’s star power may dominate, but Los Angeles’ veterans could keep it close with disciplined play.
Colorado leads the Central Division with the league’s best record, ranking top-3 in goals for and against, while Los Angeles sits mid-pack in the Pacific with solid special teams but inconsistent even-strength play.
Recent Team Forms
Colorado is on a tear, while Los Angeles shows resilience in close games but struggles with consistency.
Los Angeles Kings (Last 5 Games):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 23 | vs Seattle | L 2-3 | Close loss; limited to two goals despite strong shots. espn.com |
| Dec 15 | at CHI | L | Defensive lapses; part of road struggles. statmuse.com |
| Dec 13 | vs CHI | W 6-0 | Shutout win; offensive explosion. nhl.com |
| Dec 8 | vs UTA | W 4-2 | Solid victory; power play efficient. nhl.com |
| Dec 6 | vs CHI | W 6-0 | Dominant; six goals scored. nhl.com |
Form: L-L-W-W-W (3-2 in last 5). The Kings are 5-5 in their last 10, with strong home performances but road vulnerabilities.
Colorado Avalanche (Last 5 Games):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 27 | vs Vegas | W 6-5 SO | Thrilling shootout win; rallied from deficits three times. nhl.com +1 |
| Dec 23 | vs Utah | W 1-0 | Shutout; defensive masterclass. statmuse.com |
| Dec 21 | at Minnesota | W 5-1 | Blowout; MacKinnon multi-point game. espn.com |
| Dec 19 | vs Winnipeg | W 3-2 | Close win; power play decisive. covers.com |
| Dec 16 | at Seattle | W 5-3 | Road victory; strong third period. covers.com |
Form: W-W-W-W-W (5-0 in last 5). The Avalanche are 9-1 in their last 10, with the league’s best goal differential.
Series History
The Colorado Avalanche hold a strong historical edge over the Los Angeles Kings, with Colorado winning 47 of 87 road games against Los Angeles, while the Kings have 35 wins in those matchups (with 5 draws). Overall, the Avalanche lead the all-time series with a .500+ winning percentage. Recently, the Kings are 5-15 in their last 20 games against Colorado, including a 1-4 record in the last five.
Recent Games:
October 11, 2023: Avalanche 1-4 Kings (older reference for trend).
April 8, 2023: Avalanche 5-4 Kings.
The Avalanche won the 2021 playoff series 4-2 against the Kings.
Games average 5.5 goals, often trending under in defensive-focused matchups.
Colorado’s recent dominance gives them a psychological advantage, but Los Angeles’ home record adds intrigue.
Betting Trends
Los Angeles Kings: 18-19 ATS overall; 11-9 ATS on the road. Under hits in 6 of last 10 games; 2-3 ATS in last 5 as underdogs.
Colorado Avalanche: 20-17 ATS; 16-5 ATS at home. Over hits in 5 of last 10; 4-1 ATS in last 5 as favorites.
Head-to-Head Trends: Avalanche 15-5 SU in last 20 vs. Kings; over 6.5 goals in 4 of 10 recent meetings.
League-Wide: Home favorites like Colorado are 65% ATS vs. .500 teams in December 2025.
Game Odds
Los Angeles Kings 5.5
Colorado Avalanche – 235
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, December 28, 2025
