The Los Angeles Kings face a must-win situation against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 4 of their NHL playoff series on Sunday, April 26, 2026. With their backs against the wall, the Kings need a victory at Crypto.com Arena to stay alive in the postseason.
Why it matters: The Kings are on the brink of elimination, needing a win to avoid a fifth consecutive postseason exit.
If they lose, it would mark a half-decade of early playoff exits for the franchise.
The Kings have been competitive but have struggled to convert opportunities into wins against the Avalanche.
This game is particularly important for veteran Anze Kopitar, as it could be his last chance to compete in the NHL playoffs.
Driving the news: The Avalanche lead the series 3-0 and are looking to clinch the first-round matchup.
Colorado has dominated the series, winning all three games by a combined score of 8-4.
In Game 3, the Avalanche secured a 4-2 victory, with goals from Gabriel Landeskog, Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, and Brock Nelson.
Lehkonen's short-handed goal in the third period was the game-winner, pushing the Kings to the brink.
The big picture: The Kings' season hangs in the balance as they prepare for this elimination game.
Head coach DJ Smith is under pressure to motivate his players and devise a strategy that can outsmart the Avalanche.
The Kings have shown resilience, particularly in the third period of their last three games, but they need to capitalize on scoring chances.
Should the Kings win, they will force a Game 5 in Colorado, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
What they're saying: Players and coaches are aware of the stakes as they head into this decisive matchup.
“We’ve got to leave everything on the ice,” Kopitar said. “This is it for us if we don’t win.”
Smith added, “We’ve been close, but close isn’t good enough. We need to finish.”
The Avalanche are confident, with Landeskog stating, “We’re ready to finish this series and move on.”
By the numbers: The statistics highlight the contrasting fortunes of both teams this season.
The Avalanche finished the regular season with a record of 55-16-11, ranking first in the Central Division.
They led the league in both scoring offense (3.63 goals per game) and defense (2.40 goals against per game).
In comparison, the Kings ended their season with a 35-27-20 record, placing fourth in the Pacific Division.
What's next: The Kings must focus on their strategy and execution as they prepare for Game 4.
The game will start at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT) at Crypto.com Arena.
Fans can watch the game on TNT and truTV, with streaming options available through DirecTV, SlingTV, and HBO Max.
If the Kings manage to win, a potential Game 5 would take place in Colorado, where they would face the winner of the Minnesota Wild-Dallas Stars series.