The Colorado Avalanche are preparing the brooms after their 4-2 Game 3 win over the LA Kings on Thursday night.
The solid victory put the Avs in the driver’s seat, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The Kings once again hung tough, but just couldn’t close the gap. In the end, a Brock Nelson empty-netter sealed the victory for Colorado.
Cale Makar found the back of the net for the first time this postseason. Gabriel Landeskog notched his second of the postseason, one year to the day the Avalanche captain made his return to the NHL after being away for nearly three years with a knee injury.
Took the lead right back pic.twitter.com/Yo7BIszN9e
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 24, 2026
Artturi Lehkonen got his second of the postseason, a shorthanded marker to give the Avs a 3-1 lead midway through the third period.
Lehky with his second in the series 👏 pic.twitter.com/4J6Lby3l98
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 24, 2026
The Kings made the game close with a late power play goal, but it wasn’t enough. As soon as Los Angeles pulled the goalie in the third, Nelson picked up a loose puck and banged it home for the insurance tally.
Scott Wedgewood, for his part, made 24 saves en route to his third postseason win in as many starts this postseason.
The victory, as uneventful as it seemed, showed just how much Colorado controlled the game. Despite getting outshot 26-23, the matchup was never really close. It didn’t feel like the Kings really pushed Colorado at any point in the game.
As Landeskog said after the game, it’s just a matter of doing their thing and looking to improve.
“Sticking with it, sticking with what we’re doing, continue to do what’s working for us, and improve what we can do better. I think it’s as simple as that. It doesn’t change whether it’s after Game 1, 2, or 3, our approach is still going to be the same.”
While Bednar acknowledged that the Kings have been a tough out, it’s been key contributions across the board that have led to the seemingly insurmountable lead.
“It’s been tough sledding to create offense, but we have different guys stepping up on different nights and scoring in different situations, even if it’s just one to do it to make the difference.”
The focus will now turn to Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. The Avalanche will be looking to wrap the series up. The incentive is there as a four-game sweep would allow the Avalanche to get some much-needed rest ahead of their second-round showdown with either the Minnesota Wild or Dallas Stars.
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