The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 in Game 3, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in their playoff series. Goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, and Brock Nelson secured the win.
Key points
Avalanche lead series 3-0
Kings scored two goals in Game 3
Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves
Kings have lost last six first-round series
Next game is crucial for Kings' playoff hopes
Colorado AvalancheLos Angeles Kings
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 23: Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (not pictured) scores a shorthanded goal pas Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during the third period in game three of a Western first round NHL playoff game at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, April 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Colorado's Artturi Lehkonen (not pictured) scores a shorthanded goal past Kings goalie Anton Forsberg in the third period of Game 3. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Kings, who have lost their last six first-round playoff series, need a victory at home Sunday to extend their season. Their goals in Game 3 came from Trevor Moore in the second period and on a third-period power play.
Q&A
What was the score of the Avalanche vs Kings Game 3?
The Colorado Avalanche won Game 3 against the Los Angeles Kings with a score of 4-2.
Who scored for the Avalanche in Game 3 against the Kings?
Goals for the Avalanche in Game 3 were scored by Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, and Brock Nelson.
How many games have the Kings lost in the first round of the playoffs?
The Kings have lost their last six first-round playoff series.
What do the Kings need to do to extend their playoff season?
The Kings need to win their next game at home to extend their playoff season.
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The difference in the series has been Scott Wedgewood, who was nearly perfect in goal again Thursday, making 24 saves to leave the Kings 60 minutes away from summer.
Anton Forsberg, playing in the postseason for the first time, has been almost as good in goal for the Kings, though he was victimized by two fluke goals Thursday.
The Avalanche, who certainly havenāt needed many lucky breaks in this series, got one early in the first period when Landeskog spun and launched a wild wrister from the blue line that went well wide of the net, only to have the puck carom off the end boards and into the net off Forsbergās right skate blade.
The goal was the second in as many games for the Colorado captain.
Colorado defenseman Devon Toews reaches for the puck against Kings right wing Quinton Byfield in the first period.
Colorado defenseman Devon Toews reaches for the puck against Kings right wing Quinton Byfield in the first period. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Kings then got their own break six minutes into the second period when AlexĀ LaferriereĀ jumped Brett Kulakās clearing pass in the neutral jump and fed Quinton Byfield, whose pass into the crease struck Mooreās leg and ricocheted past Wedgewood to tie the score.
Colorado needed less than seven minutes to get the lead back, with Makar getting the puck along the boards on the left wing, skating into space at the point, then zipping a wrist shot through heavy traffic and just under the crossbar.
The Avalanche then increased the advantage 7:39 in the final period after Kempe fanned a shot from the point. Lehkonen collected the loose puck and took it the length of the ice before deflecting a centering pass off Kempeās skate and by Forsberg for a short-handed goal, his second score of the series.
Kempe got that one back on a tip-in with 4:02 to play, which threatened to keep things interesting when the Kings pulled for an extra attacker. But that plan backfired when Nelson closed the scoring into an empty net.
The six goals combined matched the total number from the first two games in Colorado.
Kings goalie Anton Forsberg covers the puck as Colorado left wing Gabriel Landeskog battles for it in the second period.
Kings goalie Anton Forsberg covers the puck as Colorado left wing Gabriel Landeskog battles for it in the second period. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The Kingsā penalty kill, which ranked 30th in the 32-team league during the regular season, has been brilliant against the Avalanche, turning back all nine Colorado power plays. That, plus stellar play for Forsberg in goal, has frustrated the NHLās top-scoring team.
But against Wedgewood, the Kings have mustered little offense of their own, scoring just four times ā three times on the power play and once off Mooreās leg.