Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Predictions for Thursday April 23 2026
Use Code PPWC
The Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings meet for Game 3 of their Western Conference First Round series on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Puck drop is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET, and the game will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Colorado enters the night with a 2-0 series lead and will try to extend that advantage on the road, while Los Angeles returns home looking for a needed response. The betting odds list the Avalanche at -162 on the moneyline and the Kings at +136, while the total is set at 5.5 goals. Get ready to track all the NHL playoff action with our Free NHL picks.
Previous Game Recap
Colorado claimed Game 2 with a 2-1 overtime win over Los Angeles, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. The game stayed scoreless through the first two periods before both teams found the net in the third. Los Angeles broke through for its only goal of the night, but Colorado answered to force overtime, where the Avalanche finished the job with the deciding goal. It was another close playoff battle between the clubs, and once again the margin was only one goal.
Los Angeles had a few strong individual performances in the loss. Artemi Panarin scored the Kings’ lone goal and was one of the players who managed to break through in a game with limited offense. Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore each picked up an assist, with Byfield also leading the way offensively with six shots on goal. Alex Laferriere added four shots, while Anton Forsberg was excellent in net, stopping 34 of 36 shots and posting a .944 save percentage to keep the Kings in position deep into overtime.
Colorado found enough offense to secure the win behind a balanced effort. Gabriel Landeskog scored one goal on four shots, and Nicolas Roy added the overtime winner. Nazem Kadri, Martin Necas, Devon Toews, and Josh Manson each recorded an assist as the Avalanche pieced together their offense in a tight game. Nathan MacKinnon added four shots, and Scott Wedgewood was outstanding in goal, turning aside 24 of 25 shots for a .960 save percentage in a steady performance.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Avalanche Bring Momentum West
Colorado heads into Game 3 with a 55-16-11 overall record and a dominant 29-7-5 road record, which gives the Avalanche plenty of confidence as the series shifts to Los Angeles. Over their last five games, Colorado recently won over Los Angeles 2-1 in overtime and recently won over Los Angeles 2-1 in Game 1. Before that, the Avalanche recently won over Seattle 2-0, recently won over Calgary 3-1, and recently won over Edmonton 2-1 in a shootout. They have won five straight games, and the two playoff wins over the Kings have both come in low-scoring, tightly contested matchups.
The team numbers support how strong Colorado has been all season. The Avalanche averaged 3.63 goals per game while allowing just 2.40 goals against per game. They also generated 33.7 shots per game and allowed only 26.1, which gives them one of the strongest shot differentials in this matchup. On special teams, Colorado scored 45 power-play goals and operated at 17.1 percent on the power play, while allowing 36 power-play goals and posting an 84.6 percent penalty-kill rate. They also added two shorthanded goals.
One clear strength for Colorado is the overall two-way balance shown in the provided data. The Avalanche score 3.63 goals per game, allow just 2.40, and create far more shots than they give up. That combination has been reflected in this series already, where they have won both games by identical 2-1 style margins. Even when the games have stayed close, Colorado has still been the team finding the final answer.
Kings Return Home Needing a Shift
Los Angeles enters Game 3 with a 35-27-20 overall record and a 15-17-9 home mark, so the Kings now return to their own building looking to turn the series around. In their last five games, Los Angeles recently lost to Colorado 2-1 in overtime and recently lost to Colorado 2-1 in Game 1. Before those playoff losses, the Kings recently lost to Calgary 3-1, recently lost to Vancouver 4-3 in overtime, and recently won over Seattle 5-3. They have dropped four of their last five games, and although the two playoff losses have both been close, they still head into Game 3 under pressure.
Los Angeles has had a different statistical profile throughout the season. The Kings averaged 2.68 goals per game and allowed 2.90 goals against. They recorded 28.0 shots per game while giving up 27.2, and their special teams numbers show 38 power-play goals with a 17.0 percent success rate. On the penalty kill, Los Angeles allowed 61 power-play goals and posted a 74.6 percent penalty-kill rate. They also scored seven shorthanded goals during the season.
The concern for Los Angeles is the gap in offensive production when compared to Colorado. The Kings average 2.68 goals per game, while the Avalanche average 3.63, and that difference matters even more in a series where every goal has been hard-earned. Los Angeles has stayed competitive in both games, but the provided numbers suggest it has less margin for error. If the Kings are going to get back into the series, they need to find a way to do more with the chances they create.
Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings Picks and Prediction
Moneyline Pick
- Colorado Avalanche
Colorado has been the stronger team by record, by road performance, and by season-long team statistics, and those edges have already carried over into this series. The Avalanche are 55-16-11 overall, 29-7-5 away from home, and they have now recently won over Los Angeles in back-to-back playoff games. Their advantages in goals per game, goals allowed, shots per game, and penalty killing all support the visiting side. The Kings have kept both games close, but the Avalanche have been the team finishing better in the important moments. The pick is Colorado on the moneyline.
Total Pick
- Under 5.5
The total sits at 5.5 goals, and the lean is toward the under. The first two games of the series both finished 2-1, including one that needed overtime, and neither team has shown much separation offensively in this matchup so far. Colorado allows only 2.40 goals per game, while Los Angeles averages just 2.68 goals per game. With the series already showing a pattern of tight, low-scoring games, the under 5.5 looks like the better play based on the information provided.
Final Score Prediction: Colorado Avalanche 3 – Los Angeles Kings 1
Never Tried Picks and Parlays? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code BUCK
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $200 in Bonuses Instantly!
