| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COL | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| LAK | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Avalanche, First Round Game 3, beat Kings 4–2 at Crypto.com Arena on April 23, 2026.
The Colorado Avalanche have claimed a commanding 3-0 lead in their First Round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, winning Game 3 by a score of 4-2. With this victory, the Avalanche are just one win away from advancing to the next round, leaving the pressure squarely on the Kings, who find themselves facing elimination.
As the series stands now, the Avalanche lead 3-0 in this best-of-seven format. The Kings, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, fell short yet again in a match where they had opportunities but couldn’t fully capitalize.
The game turned decisively in the 3rd period. After Trevor Moore equalized for the Kings early in the second period, the Avalanche regained the lead with a goal from Cale Makar at 12:12. Artturi Lehkonen’s goal at 7:39 of the third period gave the Avalanche a critical two-goal cushion, setting the stage for tension as the Kings scrambled to respond. Although Adrian Kempe brought the Kings back within one with just over two minutes left, Brock Nelson struck just 1:45 later, sealing the win for Colorado.
Gabriel Landeskog opened the scoring for the Avalanche, setting the tone early with his first goal of the playoffs. Cale Makar and Artturi Lehkonen both had significant contributions, with Makar adding a goal and an assist and Lehkonen also finding the back of the net. On the Kings' side, Trevor Moore showed resilience by tying the game early in the second, supported by Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere with assists that highlighted their playmaking capabilities. However, it wasn't enough as the Avalanche’s well-rounded effort drove the outcome.
The Kings demonstrated aggression with 32 hits, trying to disrupt their opponents, but also struggled with 12 giveaways that contributed to their downfall. Meanwhile, the Avalanche executed their game plan with disciplined play, recording no power-play goals but successfully managing their penalties.
With the Kings on the brink of elimination, they must regroup quickly as they head into Game 4. The Avalanche are now poised to close out the series and advance further in the playoffs. A win in the next matchup would secure a dominant first-round victory for Colorado, while the Kings face a must-win to keep their season alive.
Avalanche won 4–2.
The final score was Avalanche 4, Kings 2.
Artturi Lehkonen, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog.
Adrian Kempe, Trevor Moore.
Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves on 26 shots (.923 save percentage).
Anton Forsberg made 19 saves on 22 shots (.864 save percentage).
At Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, the Kings home rink.
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