Why The Avs Should DOMINATE Round 1 | Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings Series Preview

The Colorado Avalanche enter Round 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winners after a franchise-record 121-point season, and now Nathan MacKinnon and the Avs open a must-watch Western Conference showdown with Anze Kopitar, Quinton Byfield and the Los Angeles Kings. Colorado swept the regular-season series 3-0 and finished as the NHL’s top seed, making this DNVR Avalanche series preview the place to hear how the Avs can use their elite depth, speed and special teams to take control of this matchup. We break down the biggest Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings matchups, X-factors and predictions, including why MacKinnon and Colorado’s forward depth could overwhelm LA in a best-of-seven series. Don’t miss our full Avalanche playoff analysis ahead of Game 1 in Denver as the Avs begin their Stanley Cup chase against the Kings. Timestamps: 0:00 - Series Preview 1:25 - Kings Matchups 4:03 - LA’s Top Players 9:16 - Lineup Battle 14:45 - Defense Matchups 20:44 - Goalie Edge 22:04 - Avs X-Factor 29:22 - Series Prediction #nhl #hockey #coloradoavalanche #avalanche #goavsgo #avs #lakings #kings #avalanche