Los Angeles heads to Denver down 1-0 in this first-round series after Colorado’s 2-1 win in Game 1. Game 2 is listed for 10:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. local) at Ball Arena.
Colorado is priced as the clear favorite again, with the Avalanche laying a heavy moneyline and a -1.5 puck line available for plus-style payout. The total is set at 5.5.
From a standings perspective, Colorado (121 points) finished as the Central’s top team, while Los Angeles (90 points) came out of a crowded Pacific race and now has to win at altitude to avoid a 2-0 hole.
Odds & Game Info
Game: Los Angeles Kings @ Colorado Avalanche
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Arena: Ball Arena (Denver, CO)
Odds as of 7:20 a.m. ET on April 20, 2026.
Odds via Bet105.
Here’s a snapshot of the current market.
| Spread (Puck Line) | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado -1.5 (-106) Los Angeles +1.5 (-114) | Colorado -265 Los Angeles +215 | Over 5.5 (-122) Under 5.5 (EVEN) |
Starting goalies were not officially confirmed at the time of writing. Game 1 starters were Anton Forsberg for Los Angeles and Scott Wedgewood for Colorado.
Team Records
Regular-season results set the baseline for how these teams profile.
| Team | Record | Last 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Kings | 35-27-20 | 6-2-2 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 55-16-11 | 7-2-1 |
Team Stats
These efficiency stats help frame the scoring environment behind the number (5.5).
| Team | Goals per game | Goals allowed per game | Power play % | Penalty kill % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Kings | 2.68 | 2.90 | 17.0% | 74.6% |
| Colorado Avalanche | 3.63 | 2.40 | 17.1% | 84.6% |
Reference: Team stats
Recaps
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings dropped Game 1 (2-1) despite keeping the game at a low event level for most of the afternoon. Artemi Panarin scored Los Angeles’ lone goal on a third-period power play (17:38), and Anton Forsberg was solid in net with 28 saves on 30 shots. Injury-wise, Kevin Fiala is listed as out for the season (leg), which matters for a team that averaged 2.68 goals per game in the regular season.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado took a 1-0 series lead by winning the structure battle in Game 1, holding Los Angeles to 25 shots and allowing only one goal. Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 of 25 and Colorado’s penalty kill went 3-for-4 in the win. The regular-season profile fits what showed up in Game 1: elite scoring (3.63 GF/G) paired with top-tier prevention (2.40 GA/G) and strong shot suppression (26.1 shots against per game).
Matchup Keys
- Shot volume gap: Colorado averaged 33.7 shots for per game vs. 28.0 for Los Angeles, and Game 1 followed that script (Avalanche 30 shots, Kings 25).
- Special teams leverage: Both power plays are near 17%, but Colorado’s penalty kill (84.6%) is a major edge against a Kings unit at 74.6% on the kill.
- Kings scoring ceiling: Los Angeles averaged 2.68 goals per game, and playing from behind in the series raises the need for offense without giving Colorado transition looks.
- Goaltending stability: Colorado has multiple strong regular-season goalie lines available (Wedgewood and Blackwood), while Los Angeles’ margin for error tightens if this stays a one-goal game again.
- Rest and travel: Both teams stayed in Denver between Game 1 (April 19) and Game 2 (April 21), so this is a clean rest spot with no back-to-back fatigue.
Betting Trends
- Colorado finished the regular season 55-16-11 with a +101 goal differential (298 goals for, 197 goals against).
- Los Angeles finished 35-27-20 with a -18 goal differential (220 goals for, 238 goals against).
- Colorado’s regular-season home record: 26-9-6.
- Los Angeles’ regular-season road record: 20-10-11.
- Avalanche last 10: 7-2-1, allowing 1.8 goals per game over that span.
- Kings last 10: 6-2-2, allowing 2.5 goals per game over that span.
- Colorado’s defensive profile is supported by shot suppression: 26.1 shots against per game vs. Los Angeles at 27.2.
- Game 1 produced 3 total goals (Colorado 2, Los Angeles 1), well below the 5.5 total.
Best Bet
Under 5.5 (EVEN). Los Angeles’ regular-season scoring rate (2.68 GF/G) puts pressure on them to be highly efficient to clear a 5.5 in a playoff road spot, especially with Fiala out. Game 1 stayed tight with limited total shots (55 combined) and Colorado’s defensive baseline (2.40 GA/G) is strong enough to keep this from turning into a track meet. With both power plays around 17%, the total relies more on 5-on-5 finishing than special-teams volatility.
Predicted Score
Our computer projections model for this matchup predicts a final score of Colorado 3, Los Angeles 2
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