Los Angeles Kings at Avalanche Game 1: Playoffs Begin, Lines, Notes & How To Watch
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 1:15 pm 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, switching spots with Ross Colton, who will play with Jack Drury and Logan O’Connor. 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. Neither starting goalie is confirmed for the matinee puck drop to open the series. But 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 and Kings goalie Anton Forsberg have been the better goalies and are likely to go head-to-head to open this series. Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change) Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas Parker Kelly — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin Gabriel Landeskog — Nazem Kadri — Nicolas Roy Ross Colton — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor Devon Toews — Cale Makar Brent Burns — Josh Manson Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood Please consider donating to the Colorado Hockey Now Playoff Travel Fund to help our beat writer provide coverage from road games : PAYPAL or VENMO 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) Unconfirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL) Unconfirmed: Anton Forsberg (LAK) Avalanche Injuries NA 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.