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The Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Sunday. The game starts at 3 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver. It will be broadcast on HBO MAX, FDSNSC, truTV, TNT, ALT, TVAS2, SNP, SNW, and SNO.
The Avalanche are aiming for their second Stanley Cup since 2021-22. The Kings are looking to play spoiler in this opening game. Their last meeting was a 4-2 Colorado win on March 2.
That game was D.J. Smith’s first as Los Angeles’s interim coach. Coach Jim Hiller was fired on March 1. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar expects a different Kings team now.
Bednar said the Kings are more dangerous offensively than before. He attributed this partly to coaching and a key addition. He mentioned forward Artemi Panarin specifically.
The Kings acquired Panarin from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4. He played his first game with Los Angeles on Feb. 25. This followed the 2026 Winter Olympic break.
Panarin has 27 points in 26 games with the Kings. He has scored nine goals and made 18 assists. His presence has changed the team’s offensive structure.
Bednar highlighted the line of Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, and Panarin. He called it a dangerous line. The Kings have their players slotted effectively now.
He noted the Kings have been a stingy defensive team all year. Offensively, they have become more dangerous since the Olympic break. This change is evident in their last ten games or more.
Bednar said it is a team that has played really well. This improvement followed the coaching change and the Olympic break. The addition of Panarin was also a key factor.
Meanwhile, Kings interim coach D.J. Smith is not expecting surprises from Colorado. He said the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy for a reason. Many have picked them to win the series.
Smith acknowledged the Avalanche have many Olympians on their team. He said his team must manage when Colorado takes over a game. They need to limit those periods to shorter durations.
He emphasized the need to stop Colorado’s momentum shift after shift. Someone must go out and have a good shift to stop it. His players will need to play outside their comfort zone.
Smith said some guys will have to play bigger roles. The Kings will need contributions from everyone. They face a significant challenge against the top-seeded Avalanche.
The Avalanche have Nazem Kadri and Josh Manson back in their lineup. Their return strengthens the Colorado roster. It provides more depth for the playoff series.
The stage is set for a compelling Game 1 matchup. The Avalanche look to start their Cup pursuit strong. The Kings aim to defy expectations beginning on Sunday.
