Avalanche Edge Kings 2-1 in Game 1 Thriller

Wedgewood's stellar goaltending and O'Connor's long-awaited goal lift Colorado to series-opening victory.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic, high-energy action of a hockey game, with the players' movements and uniforms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant blue, burgundy, gold, black, and silver.The Avalanche's Game 1 victory over the Kings showcased the intensity and physicality of playoff hockey, with the teams combining for 84 hits in a tightly contested battle.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup playoffs series on Sunday. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves in his first career playoff start, while forward Logan O'Connor scored his first goal in over a year to help the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche take the series opener.

Why it matters

The Avalanche are the heavy favorites to win the Stanley Cup, and this hard-fought victory over the Kings in Game 1 sets them up well to make a deep playoff run. Wedgewood's strong performance in net and O'Connor's timely goal were crucial in overcoming a late push by the Kings.

The details

O'Connor's third-period tally was his first since March 31, 2025, as he had missed most of the season with a hip injury. Artturi Lehkonen also scored for the Avalanche, while Artemi Panarin tallied a late power-play goal for the Kings. The game featured a combined 84 hits as tensions escalated, with Cale Makar and Gabriel Landeskog both drawing roughing penalties for standing up for their teammates.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
  • O'Connor's last goal came on March 31, 2025, over a year ago.
  • Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Denver.

The players

Scott Wedgewood

The Avalanche goaltender made 24 saves in his first career Stanley Cup playoffs start.

Logan O'Connor

The Avalanche forward scored his first goal in over a year, breaking a long drought due to a hip injury.

Artturi Lehkonen

The Avalanche forward scored the team's other goal in the second period.

Artemi Panarin

The Kings forward scored a late power-play goal to make it a one-goal game.

Gabriel Landeskog

The Avalanche captain stood up for teammate Cale Makar and got into a scuffle with the Kings' Adrian Kempe.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game. That's playoff hockey for you.”

— Gabriel Landeskog, Avalanche Captain

What’s next

Game 2 of the series will take place on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Denver.

The takeaway

The Avalanche's victory in Game 1 showcased their depth and resilience, as they overcame a late push by the Kings to take the series opener. Wedgewood's strong goaltending and O'Connor's long-awaited goal were key factors in the win, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and hard-fought playoff series.