Managing The Moments + G1 Lineup Notes, Kempe's Playoff Prowess, Special Teams, Smith on G1
LA Kings Insider • • sports
Key Points:
- The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin with Game 1 of the first-round series between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, April 19, at Ball Arena in Denver, CO, starting at 12:00 PM Pacific.
- Colorado dominated the regular-season series 3-0 against the Kings, led by league top scorer Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar; the Avalanche enter the playoffs on a six-game point streak.
- The Kings, coached by interim head coach D.J. Smith, face challenges managing Colorado’s momentum surges and emphasized the importance of composure and resetting during tough stretches in the game.
- Key players to watch include Kings forward Adrian Kempe, a proven playoff performer, and the Kings’ special teams, which could exploit Colorado’s relatively weaker power play as a potential advantage.
- This game marks D.J. Smith’s first as head coach in an NHL playoff game, with his focus on making sound decisions under pressure to give the Kings the best chance to compete against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.
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