The end of the Kopitar era: Kings swept by Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, capping the series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4 on April 26 at Crypto.com Arena.[1][2] This outcome not only extended the Kings’ streak of first-round exits to five straight years—four previously against the Edmonton Oilers—but also brought a definitive close to the Anze Kopitar era.[3] Kopitar, the Kings’ captain since 2016 and all-time leading scorer with 1,316 points in 1,521 games, skated off to a standing ovation from fans chanting his name.

While the Kings showed flashes of defensive grit by limiting Colorado’s stars at times, their offensive woes proved insurmountable against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche. The series exposed deeper issues from a regular season defined by inconsistency and record-breaking overtime dependency.

What went wrong for the Kings

The Kings managed just five goals across the four games, scoring once in three contests and twice in the other. Only two came at even strength, with defenseman Joel Edmundson’s tally in Game 4 standing out amid a lack of production from top forwards.[1] In Game 4, Nathan MacKinnon scored twice for Colorado, including a power-play goal early and an empty-netter late, while Cale Makar, Nicolas Roy, and Devon Toews added to the tally.[2]

Defensively, Los Angeles held their own initially, tying Game 4 briefly after Edmundson’s goal. But penalties plagued them, with four in the first period alone undermining interim coach D.J. Smith’s call for discipline. Anton Forsberg stopped 27 shots, but Scott Wedgewood’s 24 saves for Colorado sealed the deal.[1]

Regular-season struggles carried over. The Kings finished with the fourth-fewest goals league-wide despite conceding the eighth-fewest, scraping into the playoffs via a weak Pacific Division. Their 35-27-20 record included an NHL-record number of overtime games—around 30-33 appearances—with 19 overtime losses, the most ever, and only 19 regulation wins.[4][5]

This overtime curse highlighted goaltending volatility and clutch failures. Darcy Kuemper’s injuries forced reliance on backups like Forsberg, while home-ice woes contrasted road strength.

Key issues included:

• Offensive drought: Poor 5-on-5 scoring and power-play inefficiency.
• Special teams: Gave up crucial goals, like MacKinnon’s opener.[2]
• Depth scoring: Veterans like Artemi Panarin, acquired midseason from the Rangers, couldn’t spark enough.[6]
• Discipline: Early penalties shifted momentum.

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty summed it up: “We fought hard… but they’re the best team in the league for a reason.”[1]

Honoring Anze Kopitar’s legacy

Kopitar’s retirement, announced earlier but finalized post-series, ends a 20-year run as the Kings’ cornerstone. A two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014), two-time Selke winner, and franchise points leader, he amassed 452 goals and 864 assists.[3]

In his final game, fans serenaded him during his last shifts, a poignant tribute echoed league-wide. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog praised him as “the ultimate pro” who “commands respect.”[3]

Teammate Adrian Kempe’s voice shook discussing the loss, while Drew Doughty called his impact “unbelievable.” D.J. Smith highlighted Kopitar’s class: “No one’s bigger than the team… a classy human being.”[3]

Kopitar reflected bittersweetly: “It’s been one heck of a ride for 20 years… Not the way we wanted to go out, but it happened.”[3] He hopes to be remembered as “a good teammate and two-time Stanley Cup champion.”

His era brought two Cups but recent mediocrity, with seven first-round exits since 2014.

Charting the path ahead

GM Ken Holland faces pivotal decisions this offseason. Retaining interim coach D.J. Smith tops the list after firing Jim Hiller in March. The Panarin trade signaled contention intent, but five straight early exits prompt questions: retool around youth like Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke, or push veterans?[6]

Draft capital offers hope. The Kings hold their first-rounder (projected mid-teens), two seconds, two sixths, and picks in other rounds for 2026.[7]

Adrian Kempe’s eight-year extension provides stability, potentially as next captain.

Roster moves could range from buyouts to trades, aiming to avoid lottery status in 2026-27. For deeper insights into the Kings’ transformative 2025-26 season, check ongoing coverage.

As detailed in this NHL.com feature on Kopitar, his departure accelerates transition.

The Kings enter uncertainty, but smart offseason moves could launch a new era. Without Kopitar’s steady hand, young talent must step up to end the playoff curse and contend anew.