Puck drop is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET (7:30 PM PT)
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
TV: ESPN+ / FanDuel Sports Network West / Altitude Sports
Radio: Colorado Avalanche Radio Network / LA Kings Audio Network / SiriusXM NHL / NHL App
Game Context
The Avalanche lead the Western Conference and Central Division with 87 points and are the NHL’s top team by a healthy margin, chasing the Presidents’ Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The Kings sit 5th in the Pacific Division with 62 points, clinging to the second wild-card spot in a crowded Western bubble. This is the third and final 2025-26 meeting; Colorado has already swept the season series. A Kings win would be a massive statement and keep their playoff hopes alive; an Avalanche victory would clinch the season-series sweep and extend their league-best dominance.
Recent Form
Colorado Avalanche (3-2-0 in last 5, W1):
- W 3-1 vs. Chicago (Feb 28) – Cale Makar 2G, strong rebound effort
- L 2-5 vs. Minnesota (Feb 26) – penalty trouble in loss
- W 4-2 vs. Utah Mammoth (Feb 25)
- W 4-2 vs. San Jose (Feb 4)
- L vs. Detroit (earlier)
Colorado is averaging 3.6+ GF/G during the stretch while posting elite underlying metrics. They are 17-6-5 on the road and have won 7 of their last 9 overall.
Los Angeles Kings (2-3-0 in last 5, W1):
- W 2-0 vs. Calgary (Feb 28) – Anton Forsberg shutout, snapped 5-game losing streak
- L 1-8 vs. Edmonton (Feb 26) – worst loss of the season
- Mixed results in prior games (2-5-1 in last 8 overall)
The Kings are scoring just 2.5 GF/G lately but showed defensive resilience in Saturday’s shutout. Home record is 9-13-7.
Injury Report
Colorado Avalanche
- Parker Kelly (C) — Day-to-Day (illness)
- Joel Kiviranta (LW) — Day-to-Day (concussion/undisclosed)
- One additional forward (hip) — OUT until ~March 22 (IR)
Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, and the core are fully available and rolling.
Los Angeles Kings
- Andrei Kuzmenko (LW) — OUT (week-to-week, knee meniscus surgery – IR)
- Kevin Fiala (LW) — OUT (leg – IR)
- Joel Armia (RW) — Questionable (upper body; expected out until at least March 2)
The Kings are thin up front without their top-two left wings; depth forwards and youngsters will be leaned on heavily.
Key Player Matchups
- Top Lines: Nathan MacKinnon / Mikko Rantanen / Gabriel Landeskog (if active) or Artturi Lehkonen (COL) vs. Anze Kopitar / Adrian Kempe / Alex Laferriere (LAK) — MacKinnon’s speed and vision exploit LA’s depleted forward group; Kempe/Laferriere must generate offense without Fiala/Kuzmenko.
- Defense/Offense: Cale Makar (COL, multi-goal threat) vs. Kings shutdown pair — Makar has been dominant (2G Saturday); LA’s blueline must limit his zone entries.
- Goalie Duel: Mackenzie Blackwood / Justus Annunen (COL) vs. Anton Forsberg (LAK – coming off shutout) — Forsberg gives the Kings a chance to steal one; Colorado’s tandem has been steady on the road.
- Special Teams — Avalanche elite PP and PK; Kings opportunistic but vulnerable without key scorers.
Series History
- 2025-26 season: Colorado leads 2-0
- Oct 7 at LA: Avalanche 4-1
- Dec 29 in Colorado: Avalanche 5-2
- All-time regular season: Avalanche hold a slight edge in recent years.
- Recent trend: Colorado has won 4 of the last 5 meetings and covered the puck line in both 2025-26 games.
Betting Trends
- Avalanche are 17-6-5 on the road and 8-2 SU/ATS in last 10 as road favorites.
- Kings are 9-13-7 at home, 2-5-1 in last 8 overall, and just 1-4 ATS as home underdogs vs. top West teams.
- Total has gone Under in 6 of Colorado’s last 8 road games and in LA’s last 4 home wins.
Game Odds
Colorado Avalanche – 175
Los Angeles Kings 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, March 1, 2026
