Avalanche Edge Kings in Game 1 Behind Wedgewood’s 25 Saves

Avalanche take game 1 2-1 over Kings

Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves in his playoff debut as Colorado beat Los Angeles 2-1 in Game 1. Lehkonen, O’Connor scored. Avs now 42-0-0 when leading after two.

Artturi Lehkonen and Logan O’Connor scored to lift the Avalanche past the Kings 2-1 in Game 1. Panarin spoiled Wedgewood’s shutout late...

 

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Sunday to take Game 1 of their Stanley Cup Playoffs series.

They are now 42-0-0 this season when leading after the second period. Goalie Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves for his first career playoff win as Colorado outshot the Kings 30-25.

 

Things were a little slow in the first. The Avs had the only power play of the period but failed to put anything on the board.

 

Doughty came OH SO CLOSE to opening the scoring in this one 😫😫😫 pic.twitter.com/PZnmwNFqQl

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 19, 2026

Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty came close to scoring the series’ first goal but missed just wide of the net.

The Kings were held to just five shots in the period.

The second period picked up as both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play, including a 4-on-4 stretch.

 

Colorado’s Logan O’Connor thought he had the game’s first goal, but it was called back for goalie interference. Had it stood, it would have been O’Connor’s first career playoff goal.

It took until 4:29 left in the second period for the Avs to finally get on the board.

Artturi Lehkonen scored his first goal of the playoffs, burying a rebound off Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg from a Nathan MacKinnon shot to make it 1-0.

Almost six minutes into the third, O’Connor took his second chance and scored his first of the playoffs - the fourth of his playoff career - to make it 2-0.

  

ARTTURI LEHKONEN OPENS THE SCORING FOR THE AVALANCHE IN GAME 1 OF THE #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS! 🎉

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports 2 pic.twitter.com/JAJP8aspJo

— NHL (@NHL) April 19, 2026

O’Connor missed 69 games this season after hip surgery and didn’t score in 13 regular-season games after returning.

  

It was his first goal in almost a full calendar year, with his last coming on April 26, 2025, against the Dallas Stars in last year’s playoffs.

The Kings had a key chance before the final 10 minutes of the period when they went on their third power play.

LOGAN O'CONNOR... MORE LIKE LOGAN GOAL CONNOR! #STANLEYCUP

📺: @NHL_On_TNT, @Sportsnet, & @TVASports 2 pic.twitter.com/qnrIkb2NBY

— NHL (@NHL) April 19, 2026

 

 

They came close a few times in front of the net but couldn’t finish - another wasted opportunity.

  

Both teams had another 4-on-4 chance after Gabriel Landeskog and Adrian Kempe each got two-minute minors for roughing. Once again, neither team found the net with the extra ice.

Los Angeles got another golden opportunity when Colorado’s Brock Nelson was called for a two-minute minor for high-sticking, giving the Kings their fourth power play of the game.

ARTEMI PANARIN MAKES IT WITHIN ONE! 😱 #STANLEYCUP

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports 2 pic.twitter.com/2ZxTLrAyxk

— NHL (@NHL) April 19, 2026

They weren’t denied a fourth time. Artemi Panarin beat Wedgewood thanks to a perfect screen from veteran Anze Kopitar to make it 2-1.

 

Right after Los Angeles cut the lead in half, the Avs went on their fourth power play of the game. They nearly converted on a two-on-one in front, but Martin Necas rang it off the crossbar.

They still held on for the win. Game 2 between the Avalanche and Kings is set for Tuesday, April 21, at 10:00 p.m. ET.

 

Los Angeles’ Mikey Anderson and Alex Laferriere posted the highest player ratings in Game 1, the only two to hit at least 8.0.