Kings vs Avalanche Prediction 4/26/26 NHL Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Kings vs Avalanche prediction for this NHL game on Sunday, April 26th at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this NHL playoff matchup.

Los Angeles Kings Betting Preview

The Los Angeles Kings are down 0-3 in this series after they lost the first three games by scores of 1-2, 1-2 (OT), and 2-4. In game three, Los Angeles tied the game at one in the second period, but they allowed three of the last four goals for the loss. The Kings recorded 26 shots on goal, won 41.5% of the face-offs, and went 1-4 on the power play in the game. LA got goals from Kempe and Moore, while Forsberg stopped 19 out of 22 shots, which was an .864 save percentage.

Prior to this series, Los Angeles lost to the Flames by a score of 3-1 and the Canucks by a score of 4-3. The Kings have lost five games in a row and they finished fourth in the Pacific standings with 90 points. Los Angeles scored 2.68 goals per game and they allowed 2.90 goals against per game, while also going 17.0% on the power play and 74.6% on the penalty kill this season. Adrian Kempe led LA with 36 goals and 37 assists, while Quinton Byfield added 24 goals and 25 assists. The projected starting goalie for LA is Anton Forsberg, who was 16-12-5 with a 2.57 goals against average and a .910 save percentage this season. 

Colorado Avalanche Betting Preview

The Colorado Avalanche are up 3-0 in this series after they won game three by a score of 4-2. Colorado led 2-1 after two periods and they added two goals in the third to seal the win. The Avalanche recorded 23 shots on goal, won 58.5% of the face-offs, and went 0-2 on the power play in the game. Colorado got goals from Landeskog, Lehkonen, Nelson, and Makar, while Wedgewood stopped 24 out of 26 shots, which was a .923 save percentage.

Prior to this series, Colorado defeated the Kraken by a score of 2-0 and the Flames by a score of 3-1. The Avalanche have won six games in a row and they finished first in the Central standings with 121 points. Colorado scored 3.63 goals per game and they allowed 2.40 goals against per game, while also going 17.1% on the power play and 84.6% on the penalty kill this season. Nathan MacKinnon led Colorado with 53 goals and 74 assists, while Martin Necas added 38 goals and 62 assists. The projected starting goalie for Colorado is Scott Wedgewood, who was 31-6-6 with a 2.02 goals against average and a .921 save percentage this season. 

Why the Los Angeles Kings will win

• The Kings have won five of their last six day games following a home loss.
• The Avalanche have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven day games following a road win.
• The Kings have covered the puck line in 13 of their last 16 day games at Crypto.com Arena against opponents on a winning streak.
• The Kings have won the second period in seven of their last eight day games at Crypto.com Arena when tied after the first period.

Why the Colorado Avalanche will win

• The Avalanche have won each of their last 10 road games against Pacific Division opponents.
• The Kings have lost each of their last nine games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
• The Kings have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last seven home games against Central Division opponents.
• The Avalanche have covered the puck line in each of their last four road games against the Kings.
• The Avalanche have won the third period in seven of their last eight road games against Pacific Division opponents.

Total Goals Facts

• Each of the Avalanche’s last eight day games have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• Seven of the Kings’ last eight games as underdogs against opponents on a winning streak have gone UNDER the total goals line.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 2’ market has hit in each of the Avalanche’s last seven games at Crypto.com Arena against opponents on a losing streak.
• The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3’ market has hit in each of the last seven games between the Avalanche and Kings.

Los Angeles Kings Player Prop Facts

• Artemi Panarin has scored a goal in each of the Kings’ last five day games.
• Alex Laferriere has recorded at least one assist in five of the Kings’ last six games.
• Kevin Fiala has scored the last goal in five of his six previous appearances with his team as a home underdog against the Avalanche.
• Adrian Kempe has recorded three assists against the Avalanche this season – equal-most against any opponent.

Colorado Avalanche Player Prop Facts

• Artturi Lehkonen has scored the first goal in each of the Avalanche’s last three day playoff games.
• Nathan MacKinnon has scored at least one goal in five of the Avalanche’s last six road playoff games.
• Nathan MacKinnon has recorded at least one assist in each of his last 10 Sunday appearances against Pacific Division opponents.
• Nathan MacKinnon ranks 1st in the league for Goals (53) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Los Angeles Kings rank 30th in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (74.58%).
• The Los Angeles Kings rank 29th in the league for goals per game this season (2.68).
• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals per game this season (3.63).
• The Colorado Avalanche rank 1st in the league for goals against per game this season (2.40).

Kings vs Avalanche Prediction 

Colorado comes into this matchup looking to complete the series sweep and they have allowed two goals or fewer in six straight games. The Avalanche were 29-7-5 on the road this year, while the Kings were 15-17-9 at home. Los Angeles continues to have issues scoring goals, which has given them nothing to show for their strong defensive effort in this series. I think this will be another close game, but I don’t trust LA to score three goals. I don’t like the price, but I will take Colorado to get the win and close out the series.