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Los Angeles (0-1) at Colorado (1-0)
- When: Apr 21 2026, 10:00 PM
- Where: Ball Arena, Denver, CO, USA
- TV: ESPN
Los Angeles vs Colorado NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Colorado -270
Spread: Colorado -1.5 (-103)
Total: 5.5
Colorado Avalanche: Quietly In Control
Colorado sitting at -270 like they already booked Round 2 hotels. And honestly… after Game 1, they might not be wrong.
Nathan MacKinnon and company didn’t even go full supernova and still got the job done. That’s the scary part. Their top line chipped in, the fourth line randomly decided to become heroes, and somehow Logan O’Connor remembered how to score after disappearing for 13 games. Timing is everything, apparently.
Then there’s Scott Wedgewood, casually rocking a .921 save percentage and turning into a brick wall when it matters. The Kings had open nets and still couldn’t score. That’s not defense, that’s emotional damage.
Colorado doesn’t need chaos. They’re comfortable grinding, scoring just enough, and letting opponents slowly lose their minds.
Los Angeles Kings: Hits Without Finish
Ah yes, the Kings strategy. If you can’t outscore them, just hit them… a lot.
49 hits in Game 1. Forty-nine. That’s not hockey, that’s a bar fight with skates.
Mikey Anderson basically said the quiet part out loud. They know they can’t win a track meet. So the plan is to drag this into the mud and hope Colorado forgets how to play hockey.
To be fair, it almost worked. They kept it tight, made it ugly, and even had chances… including two wide-open nets they somehow missed. You can’t make this up. That’s like getting handed free money and asking if it comes in smaller bills.
Their only goal came with a power play and an empty net advantage. So yeah… offense is still on vacation.
LVSB NHL Playoffs Prediction
Colorado at -270 feels expensive, but also feels like the safest relationship you’ve ever been in.
Kings will hit everything that moves, probably including each other, but unless they figure out how to actually score, this is just cardio.
Spread at -1.5 is tempting at (-103). If Colorado gets an early lead, this could open up fast. Or it could be another low-scoring grind where everyone pretends they enjoy defense.
Total at 5.5 screams under again. Unless those empty nets magically start going in, we’re watching a goalie clinic with occasional chaos.
Score Prediction: Avalanche 3, Kings 1
Pick: Colorado -1.5 (-103)
Total: Under 5.5 (-103)
- NHL Playoffs Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
