The 2026 NHL playoffs continue on Sunday with Game 1 of the Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings Western Conference playoff series. The first puck drop is at 3 p.m. ET.
Series Overview
Colorado Avalanche finished as Central Division champions with a 55-16-11 record. Los Angeles Kings claimed the second wild-card spot in the West with a 35-27-20 record. This is a best-of-seven series.
Game 1 Betting Odds
The Avalanche are -292 favorites (risk $292 to win $100) in the latest odds. The over/under for total goals scored is 5.5, with the Avalanche puck line set at -1.5 (-114).
SportsLine Projection Model Analysis
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times. The model entered the final week of the 2025-26 NHL season profitable on top-rated NHL picks, including a +550 return on money-line picks.
After simulating Avalanche vs. Kings 10,000 times, the model's pick is Going Over on the total (5.5). These teams met three times this season with results of Over, Under, and a push.
Offensive Preview
The Avalanche lead the NHL with 3.63 goals per game and move the puck exceptionally well, leading the league with 522 assists.
Best goal scorers for Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Brock Nelson
Best goal scorers for Los Angeles: Adrian Kempe, Artemi Panarin
The model projects six combined goals as the Over hits 54% of the time.