Avalanche Game 1 vs Los Angeles Kings: Opening Night! Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Colorado Avalanche kick off their 2026-27 season against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena, marking their second consecutive opening night against the same opponent. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:18 p.m. MT, with the game set to broadcast nationally on TNT. The Avs will be missing 11 healthy forwards, with Logan O'Connor and Zachary L’Heureux listed as day-to-day and unavailable.

Head coach Jared Bednar will dress seven defensemen, allowing rookie Noah Juulsen to make his debut. The third line will feature all new players: Fedor Svechkov, Jaden Schwartz, and rookie T.J. Hughes, who will debut in the NHL following his college career at Michigan. Hughes will join Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, and Gabe Landeskog on the power play, giving Bednar a quartet of right-handed defenders.

The Avs' power play was a weakness last season, and Mackenzie Blackwood will start in goal after a successful training camp and preseason. This marks Blackwood's first season opener with the Avalanche, despite being with the team for nearly 22 months. The Kings will be a different team than the one the Avalanche defeated in four games earlier this season.

Drew Doughty takes over as captain, Quinton Byfield returns to the center position, and Peter Laviolette is making his coaching debut with the Kings. The Kings will also be without Kevin Fiala, Corey Perry, and Joel Edmundson, who are all dealing with injuries.