Start Time: 12:00 PM ET
Venue: Ball Arena — Denver, Colorado Broadcast: TNT / truTV / HBO Max / ALT / FDSNSC
Injury Report
Colorado Avalanche
Josh Manson (D) — Day‑to‑day, expected to be available Apr 19
Los Angeles Kings
No major injuries listed in official Game 1 preview sources.
Team Records & Season Profile
Los Angeles Kings
Record: 35‑27‑20
Goals For/Against: 2.68 GF/G, 2.90 GA/G
Special Teams:
Power Play: 17.0%
Penalty Kill: 74.6%
Colorado Avalanche
Record: 55‑16‑11 (Presidents’ Trophy winners)
Goals For/Against: 3.63 GF/G, 2.40 GA/G (1st in NHL in both categories)
Special Teams:
Power Play: 17.1%
Penalty Kill: 84.6% (1st NHL)
Recent Team Form
Kings — Last 5
L 3–1 @ CGY
L 4–3 OT @ VAN
W 5–3 @ SEA
W 1–0 vs EDM
W 4–1 vs VAN
Avalanche — Last 5
W 2–0 vs SEA
W 3–1 @ CGY
W 2–1 SO @ EDM
L 3–2 OT vs VGK
W 3–1 vs CGY
Colorado enters on a 4–1 surge, including a shutout win. LA enters 2–3 in their last five.
Key Player Matchups
Los Angeles Kings
Adrian Kempe: 36 G, 37 A, 73 PTS — team scoring leader
Artemi Panarin: 28 G, 56 A, 84 PTS — added mid‑season; 27 points in 26 games with LA, transforming their top line
Anze Kopitar: 38 points, +19 — stabilizing two‑way presence
Colorado Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon: 53 G, 74 A, 127 PTS — MVP‑level season, league‑leading offense
Scott Wedgewood (G): 31‑6‑6, 2.02 GAA, .921 SV% — elite starter
Mikko Rantanen / Valeri Nichushkin: High‑impact wingers supporting MacKinnon (per team scoring leaders).
Series History & Context
Colorado won the last meeting 4–2 on March 2.
Avalanche enter as Presidents’ Trophy winners and heavy favorites.
Kings have improved offensively since acquiring Artemi Panarin, forming a dangerous Kempe–Kopitar–Panarin line.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar warns LA is “more dangerous offensively” than earlier in the season.
Betting Trends
Avalanche: 1st in NHL in GF/G and GA/G — elite two‑way profile.
Kings: 29th in goals scored; offense inconsistent despite recent improvement.
Goaltending edge strongly favors Colorado (Wedgewood .921 vs. Kuemper .891).
Game Odds
Los Angeles Kings 5.5
Colorado Avalanche – 278
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 18, 2026
