- MacKinnon scores twice as Avalanche eliminate Kings 5-1 in Game 4
- Anze Kopitar plays final NHL game after 20-year career in LA
- Read below for the standing ovations, the postgame handshake line, and what is next for Colorado
The Anze Kopitar era is over.
Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and added an assist as the Colorado Avalanche finished off the Los Angeles Kings 5-1 in Game 4 on Sunday, completing a first-round sweep at Crypto.com Arena and closing the book on Kopitar’s 20-year career.
MacKinnon got the Avs on the board with a power-play one-timer at 13:13 of the first period, ending Colorado’s 0-for-9 power-play drought in the series. Cale Makar made it 2-0 in the second with a wrister to the glove side after slicing in from the blue line past Taylor Ward.
Joel Edmundson briefly cut it to a one-goal game when his shot from the left circle squeaked through Scott Wedgewood, but Nicolas Roy and Devon Toews answered in the third to bury it. MacKinnon added an empty-netter at 14:22 to seal the 5-1 final.
Wedgewood made 24 saves and is now 4-0 in his first four career playoff starts. Gabriel Landeskog chipped in with two assists.
The biggest moment did not show up on the scoresheet.
Kopitar took what would be the final shift of his career with 2:17 to play, and Crypto.com Arena rose to its feet. Kings fans started a “Kopi! Kopi!” chant in the closing minutes, and the 38-year-old got standing ovations on each of his last two shifts:
After the final horn, the Avalanche lined up for the handshake line and let Kopitar lead it. He skated a slow lap around center ice with his arm raised while his teammates banged their sticks on the boards.
Here is the goodbye:
Kopitar announced back on September 18 that the 2025-26 season would be his last. He retires as the Kings’ all-time leader in points with 1,316 and games played, a two-time Stanley Cup champion in 2012 and 2014, and a two-time Selke Trophy winner.
The Slovenian center spent his entire 20-year career in Los Angeles after going 11th overall in 2005, and he served as captain since 2016-17. Calgary fans also gave him a standing ovation in his final regular-season road game earlier this month.
Game 4 highlights:
Colorado now waits on the winner of Stars-Wild, which is tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for Tuesday in Dallas. The Avs will get at least five days off before the second round, per the NHL.com recap.
