The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings for Game 1 of their first-round series at Ball Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. MT and will be broadcast nationally on TNT.
Key Stories to Watch
- The Avalanche are fully healthy and ready to flex their depth after a successful, franchise record-breaking regular season. Parker Kelly will open the playoffs in the top six. And it could be Joel Kiviranta who will play with Jack Drury and Logan O’Connor, meaning Ross Colton becomes the odd man out. Colorado also boasts arguably the most talented third line in the league on paper, with center Nazem Kadri playing between wingers Gabe Landeskog and Nic Roy.
- The Kings are missing Kevin Fiala for the season, but a returning Andrei Kuzmenko should help spark their offense. Kuzmenko hasn’t played since Feb. 25 but was reactivated off injury reserve on Saturday. The 30-year-old forward has 13 goals and 25 points in 52 games. Los Angeles has no other injuries heading into the postseason.
- There’s a big chance that the two guys who have carried the “starter” label, Mackenzie Blackwood and Darcy Kuemper, will both back up. Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood is confirmed to start. For the Kings, goalie Anton Forsberg has been better as of late.
Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Parker Kelly — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Gabriel Landeskog — Nazem Kadri — Nicolas Roy
Joel Kiviranta — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Brent Burns — Josh Manson
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski
Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood
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Projected Kings Lines (subject to change)
Artemi Panarin — Anze Kopitar — Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore — Quinton Byfield — Alex Laferriere
Joel Armia —Scott Laughton — Andrei Kuzmenko
Mathieu Joseph — Samuel Helenius — Jared Wright
Mikey Anderson— Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson — Brandt Clarke
Brian Dumoulin — Cody Ceci
Anton Forsberg
Darcy Kuemper
Projected Starters (subject to change)
- Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
- Unconfirmed: Anton Forsberg (LAK)
Avalanche Injuries
Kings Injuries
- Kevin Fiala (lower leg, out for season)
How to Watch
- TV: TNT, truTV, and HBO Max, Altitude Sports (locally)
- Radio: 92.5 FM
Playoff Series Head-to-Head
- Game 1 vs Los Angeles Kings (April 19 at 1 pm MT)
- Game 2: vs Los Angeles Kings (April 21 at 8 pm MT)
- Game 3: at Los Angeles Kings (April 23 at 8 pm MT)
- Game 4: at Los Angeles Kings (April 26 at 2:30 pm MT)
- Game 5: vs Los Angeles Kings (April 29)
- Game 6: at Los Angeles Kings (May 1)
- Game 7: vs Los Angeles Kings (May 3)
Regular Season Head-to-Head
- Oct. 7 at Los Angeles Kings (W, 4-1)
- Dec. 29 vs Los Angeles Kings (W, 5-2)
- March 2 at Los Angeles Kings (W, 4-2)
