For the last five consecutive years in the West in the Pacific Division, the Los Angeles Kings (35-27-20) have made the postseason in the playoffs in the early-to-mid 2020s decade. This is the first time in the last four consecutive years in the West in the Pacific Division that interim head coach DJ Smith and the Kings won't be facing superstar forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the Edmonton Oilers in the first round in the postseason in the playoffs.
Rather than facing the superstar duo of McDavid and Draisaitl vs. the Oilers in the Pacific Division in the West this postseason in the playoffs, the Kings face Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and the President's Trophy winner Colorado Avalanche (55-16-11) in Game 1.
The style of confident and aggressive hockey defensively and on both sides of the ice that Smith and the Kings' coaching staff have been playing in the West in the Pacific Division in this past couple of months on the ice will translate to a month of more captured hockey for the team.
This has been an up and down season in the standings in the West this past regular season down the stretch this past spring for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff on the ice. The Kings were close to not getting a spot in the postseason in the playoffs in the West this month in late April in the standings down the stretch in this past couple of months.
Smith and the Kings' coaching staff were close to getting home-ice advantage this weekend at Crypto.com Arena in Game 1 in the West.
Here’s everything you need to know to catch Game 1 action on Sunday afternoon between the Kings and Avalanche on the road:
- Date: Sunday, April 19th
- Start Time: 12 pm PT
- TV Channel: TNT/truTV
- Announcers: Kenny Albert, Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher (reporter)
- Radio: ESPN LA app
- Live Stream: HBO Max |Â Fubo
Out of the first four games of the series in the opening-round matchup, the Kings and Avalanche will be on TNT/TruTV broadcasts for the three games. The Kings and Avalanche in Game 2 of the opening-round matchup will be broadcast live on ESPN.
All games will be streamed live either on the ESPN app or on HBO Max. The radio broadcasts will be available on the ESPN LA app and the LA Kings team app.
The Kings getting superstar forward Artemi Panarin this past couple of months on the block at the trade deadline a couple of months ago in early Feburary this past regular season gives the team a boost offensively in the zone. In the betting odds, the Kings are considered heavy underdogs, but we'll see in Game 1 if they can shift that narrative on the ice vs. Colorado in the West.
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