The Colorado Avalanche will begin their NHL playoff journey after finishing the regular season with the best record. They secured the Western Conference No. 1 seed and will have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
Key points
Colorado Avalanche finished the regular season with the best record
Avalanche clinched the Western Conference No. 1 seed
Home ice advantage throughout the NHL playoffs
Last regular season game was a 2-0 win against Seattle Kraken
Colorado AvalancheSeattle Kraken
The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially set.
And that means the Colorado Avalanche finally know what the first step on their road to the Cup looks like after compiling the league's best record during the 2025-26 season.
The Avalanche ended the regular season with a 2-0 home win vs. the Seattle Kraken on April 16, but Colorado had already clinched the Western Conference No. 1 seed and home ice throughout the NHL playoffs.
Here's what to know about the Avalanche's Stanley Cup Playoff picture:
Who will Colorado Avalanche play in NHL playoffs?
The Avalanche's first-round opponent will be the Los Angeles Kings, who finished fourth in the Pacific Division with a 35-27-20 record to earn the West's No. 2 and final Wild Card spot.
If the Avs beat the Kings in the first-round, best-of-7 series, Colorado would then face the winner of the Dallas Stars-Minnesota Wild series in the second round.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) celebrates with defenseman Sam Malinski (70) after the team clinched a playoff berth.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) celebrates with defenseman Sam Malinski (70) after the team clinched a playoff berth.
Series schedule: When is the Avs' first NHL playoff game?
The Avs will begin the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19 at 1 p.m. Mountain Time, hosting the Kings for Game 1 at Ball Arena in Denver.
Here is the full series schedule for the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, plus where to watch each game:
Game 1: Kings at Avalanche, April 19, p.m. MT; Altitude, TNT, truTV and HBO MAX
Q&A
Who do the Colorado Avalanche play in the first round of the NHL playoffs?
The specific opponent for the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the NHL playoffs has not been detailed in the provided information.
What is the schedule for the Colorado Avalanche's playoff games?
The schedule for the Colorado Avalanche's playoff games has not been provided in the excerpt.
What TV channel will broadcast the Colorado Avalanche playoff games?
The TV channel for broadcasting the Colorado Avalanche playoff games is not mentioned in the provided content.
How did the Colorado Avalanche perform in the regular season?
The Colorado Avalanche finished the regular season with the best record in the league, including a 2-0 win against the Seattle Kraken.
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Game 2: Kings at Avalanche, April 21, 8 p.m. MT; Altitude and ESPN
Game 3: Avalanche at Kings, April 23, 8 p.m. MT; Altitude, TNT, truTV and HBO MAX
Game 4: Avalanche at Kings, April 26, 2:30 p.m. MT; Altitude, TNT, truTV and HBO MAX
Game 5: Kings at Avalanche (if necessary, April 29, time and TV TBD)
Game 6: Avalanche at Kings (if necessary, May 1, time and TV TBD)
Game 7: Timberwolves at Nuggets (if necessary; May 3, date, time and TV TBD)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his empty net goal with Martin Necas (88) as Calgary Flames forward Morgan Frost (16) looks on in the third period at Ball Arena.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his empty net goal with Martin Necas (88) as Calgary Flames forward Morgan Frost (16) looks on in the third period at Ball Arena.
How to watch the Avalanche in the NHL playoffs?
All Colorado Avalanche and NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games are nationally televised with coverage on ESPN, TNT or their affiliated networks (ABC, TBS and truTV, HBO MAX).
First-round Avalanche playoff games will also be broadcast regionally on Altitude Sports (DIRECTV channel 681 and Xfinity channel 1250 in Colorado) and through the Altitude+ streaming app.
Nationally-televised playoff games can also be streamed live via fuboTV, DIRECTV STREAM, Hulu + Live TV, or ESPN+.
How can you listen to the Avalanche in the NHL playoffs?
The Avalanche are carried on the Altitude Sports Radio networks in Colorado, primarily 92.5 FM in the Denver area.
Kings-Avalanche season series, playoff history
Colorado won all three matchups against the Kings during the 2025-26 regular season:
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) gets his shot on goal blocked by Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) gets his shot on goal blocked by Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
The Avs are 16-4 against Los Angeles in the last 20 matchups dating back to March 2021.
The teams have only met twice in playoff series, with the Avalanche winning a pair seven-game series over the Kings in the 2001 West semifinals and the 2002 West first round. Colorado went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2001.
Best through 82: Can Avs be rare Presidents' Trophy champion?
The Avalanche finished the 82-game regular season with a 55-16-11 record for 121 points, eight clear of the Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, 113 points).
That earned Colorado the Presidents' Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL team who accrues the most regular-season points.
The Avs also won the Central Division, holding off the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, who each tallied over 100 points.
However, the last 12 Presidents' Trophy winners have failed to win the Stanley Cup. In fact, none of those dozen teams even made the Stanley Cup Final.
All told, only eight of the last 38 trophy winners have ultimately claimed the Stanley Cup. The Chicago Blackhawks were the last team to do so in 2012-13.
There is some precedent for the Avs, though. The 2000-01 Colorado team that won the Cup was among those eight Presidents' Trophy recipients who have gone on to become NHL champions.
Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) celebrates scoring a goal against Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) celebrates scoring a goal against Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
Colorado Avalanche history in Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Avs have hoisted the Stanley Cup three times (1996, 2001, 2022), winning all three times they've reached the Stanley Cup Final.
Colorado is making its ninth consecutive playoff appearance, with the streak starting in the 2017-18 season.
Overall, the Avalanche are 152-111 all-time in the NHL playoffs.
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
