The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are taking on the Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] for their first game of the 2025-26 NHL Playoffs. The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] have made the playoffs in their past 5 seasons, and the previous 4 have featured them facing the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. But this season is different, as the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are taking on the President's Trophy winners. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 P.M Eastern time. KINGS PROJECTED LINES Here are the projected Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] lines for game 1: Artemi Panarin - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere Joel Armia - Scott Laughton - Jared Wright Mathieu Joseph - Samuel Helenius - Jeff Malott Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci Anton Forsberg Darcy Kuemper AVALANCHE PROJECTED LINES Here are the projected Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] lines for game 1: Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas Parker Kelly - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin Gabriel Landeskog - Nazem Kadri - Nicolas Roy Joel Kiviranta - Jack Drury - Logan O’Connor Brett Kulak - Cale Makar Devon Toews - Sam Malinski Josh Manson - Brent Burns Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood LINE CHANGES AND INJURIES The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings]' interim coach said that Malott, Turoctte and Kuzmenko are all available for the first round, but only Malott is expected to play in game 1. For the Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche], Kadri, who missed 4 games due to a finger injury, and Manson, who missed 2 games with an undisclosed injury, are both expected to play today. Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] head coach Jared Bednar also said that he would not reveal lineup decisions, including his starting goaltender. KEY FACTORS The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] have done the hard part by making the playoffs, and now they have to prove they deserve to be there. They face the best team in the NHL. The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings]https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kingshttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings will have to get all of their players at their best, especially the offensive duo of Panarin and Kempe. While today is only game 1, it is still very important for the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] to set the tone, and if they can steal a game on the road, that could be extremely impactful later in the series. While the Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] have not released a true starting goaltender, it looks like the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] will start Anton Forsberg in game 1, and this feels like the right call, as Forsberg has won 4 of his last 5 starts for the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings]. Overall, the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] can flip the series on its head with a win tonight. Game 1 between the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] and the Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] starts at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time, and the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are looking to go up 1-0 after today.
