Colorado (0-0-0) at Los Angeles (0-0-0)
- When: Oct 7 2025, 10:30 PM
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Crypto.com Arena
- TV: ESPN
Colorado vs Los Angeles NHL Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Los Angeles -115
Spread: Los Angeles -1.5 (+215)
Total: 6.0
Los Angeles Kings Betting Outlook
The Kings open their 2025–26 campaign at home with one goal in mind: finally making it out of the first round. After four straight playoff exits at the hands of Edmonton, Los Angeles hopes a blend of veteran grit and youthful energy can finally push them deeper into the postseason.
Coach Jim Hiller’s squad got a wake-up call in their preseason finale against Anaheim. Up 4–0 in the third, they completely unraveled before salvaging a 5–4 overtime win on a late Kevin Fiala goal. That meltdown served as a timely reminder, no lead is safe, especially against offensive juggernauts like Colorado.
Anze Kopitar begins his farewell season, marking his 20th year in the NHL. The captain’s leadership, along with additions like Corey Perry and Brian Dumoulin, gives this team a balanced mix of experience and edge. However, the Kings could be without forward Alex Laferriere (undisclosed injury), who quietly notched 19 goals last season and remains day-to-day.
Defensively, the additions of Cody Ceci and Dumoulin aim to tighten up a blue line that too often collapsed late in games. Expect the Kings to play a structured, possession-heavy style, aiming to slow down Colorado’s relentless pace and protect leads this time around.
Kings Player Prop Pick: Kevin Fiala Over 0.5 Points — Fiala finished the preseason strong and thrives in open-ice matchups. Against Colorado’s aggressive defense, he’s primed to hit the scoresheet early.
Colorado Avalanche Betting Outlook
The Avalanche head into the new season with their trademark swagger, high speed, high scoring, and maybe a touch of chaos. They finished the preseason 4–2 but dropped their final two, a reminder that even elite rosters have off nights.
Colorado’s biggest storyline is the return of Gabriel Landeskog, who hasn’t played a regular-season game since March 2022. The Avs captain missed three full years with knee issues but looked solid during last year’s playoff cameo. His presence immediately boosts the lineup’s intensity and leadership.
Veteran defenseman Brent Burns joins the mix, bringing nearly a thousand consecutive games of experience and one of the league’s most iconic beards. His offensive instincts from the blue line could pair well with Cale Makar, giving Colorado perhaps the most dynamic defensive duo in hockey.
Goaltending remains the big question. The Avalanche are still searching for consistency between the pipes and that could make or break this game against a deep Kings forward group.
Avalanche Player Prop Pick: Cale Makar Over 2.5 Shots on Goal — With Burns now drawing attention, Makar should see plenty of clean looks from the point. Expect him to test the Kings’ defense early and often.
NHL Prediction and Final Score
The Kings enter with stability and motivation, but the Avalanche bring too much firepower and momentum to ignore. If Colorado’s top line finds rhythm and Makar starts firing, they could spoil Kopitar’s farewell opener in dramatic fashion.
Score Prediction: Avalanche 4, Kings 3
Pick: Colorado (-105)
Total: Over 6.0 (-105)
- NHL Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
