Avalanche Sweep Kings, But Makar Reveals Truth Behind Series

The Colorado Avalanche advanced to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5–1 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep. On paper, it was decisive. On the ice, it was a grind from start to finish.

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Cale Makar was quick to speak about this point following their sweep, mentioning the matchup was a lot closer than fans may have anticipated and saw. Although the Avalanche rolled past the Kings, Los Angeles consistently worked Colorado for every inch of the ice and every scoring chance they had.

Cale Makar’s Thoughts on the LA Kings’ Play

“It was a tight series every night; they defend extremely well and force you to earn everything. We had to adjust, find different looks, and stay patient. Nothing came easy.” Makar told NHL.com’s Dan Greenspan.

Due to the Avalanche’s strong play over this period, they have now earned the right to get some much-needed rest as they await the winner of the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild series, which has been nothing short of a dog fight on both ends, as the series remains tied at 2’s with game five on Tuesday.

From the very beginning of the series, many did not anticipate the Kings to have any chance. While they were swept and unable to take control of any games, the score remained close. The first two games of the series ended in 2-1 wins, which could have gone either way depending on the bounces. Game three proved the Avalanche had another level as they won another tight contest 4-2, while they dominated the Kings in game four 5-1. The Kings played with a lot of fight and heart, while the Avs continued to search for answers, as Makar noted.

Solid Contributions All Around for the Avalanche

Scott Wedgewood played solidly between the pipes, only surrendering five goals over the four-game span. The Avalanche also received key contributions from their captain, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, who led the way with two goals and two assists. With Wedgewood’s strong play, it was going to be very difficult for the Kings to remain in the series. No team in the NHL is going to have a chance with the President’s Trophy winners if you are only able to put the puck in the back of the net five times.

While the loss is disappointing for the Kings, they should exit, leaving their heads held high. They played strong hockey throughout the entirety of the series, gaining respect from players of the caliber of Cale Makar. The series result says sweep; however, the performance says something otherwise.

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