Avalanche Pregame Notes
Avalanche Game 1 at Los Angeles Kings: Opening Night! Lines, Notes & How To Watch
The Colorado Avalanche open the 2025-26 season on the road against the Los Angeles Kings in the third leg of an ESPN triple header on the first day of the NHL season. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:50 p.m. MT.
Key Stories to Watch
- Colorado is starting the new season with a far deeper lineup than it has had in October in recent years. The additions of Brent Burns and Victor Olofsson, as well as the emergence of rookies Zakhar Baradakov and Gavin Brindley, fill out an already impressive lineup.
- Gabe Landeskog is set to play his first NHL regular-season game since March 2022.
- The first year of the Ken Holland era begins for the Kings at the same time that the last season of Anze Kopitar’s career commences.
- L.A.’s new blueline will get its first taste of action. The debuts of both Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin will replace the departed Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence.
Season Series
- Oct. 7 at Los Angeles Kings
- Dec. 29 vs Los Angeles Kings
- March 2 at Los Angeles Kings
Avalanche Injuries
- Mackenzie Blackwood (undisclosed, week-to-week)
- Logan O’Connor (hip, early November return)
Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton — Jack Drury — Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta — Parker Kelly — Gavin Brindley
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Sam Malinski — Brent Burns
Scott Wedgewood
Trent Miner
Projected Starters (Subject to Change)
- Confirmed: Scott Wedgewood (COL)
- Confirmed: Darcy Kuemper (LAK)
Upcoming Milestones
- Nathan MacKinnon — needs 1 point for most in Avalanche history
- Joel Kiviranta — needs 2 games for 300
- Gabriel Landeskog — needs 2 goals for 250
- Brent Burns — needs 3 games for 1,500
- Cale Makar — needs 5 games for 400
- Artturi Lehkonen — needs 10 games for 600
How to Watch
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: 92.5 FM
