The Colorado Avalanche opened their quest for the 2026 Stanley Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 at Ball Arena, where they fought for every opportunity.
The opening period showcased the excitement of playoff hockey: Both teams were playing physical, finishing their checks, and taking shots on net. However, neither team managed to find the back of the net in the first 20 minutes, as both teams prioritized defensive structure.
Colorado finally cracked the code late in the second period. The Avalanche forced a turnover in the Kings’ zone. Nathan MacKinnon fired a puck toward the crease that created a scramble in front of LA goaltender Anton Forsberg. The scramble allowed Artturi Lehkonen to pounce on the loose puck and bury it for a 1-0 lead.
Early in the third, Colorado doubled their advantage when Logan O’Connor did what he does best. Stemming from a
neutral-zone turnover and a quick breakaway, he fired a “top shelf” goal past Forsberg. Down 2-0, the Kings refused to go down without a fight. The physicality amped up and they were taking shots off of every zone entry. With just over two minutes remaining and their goalie pulled, Artemi Panarin scored his first career playoff goal as a King to make it 2-1. Colorado’s Scott Wedgewood, who earned his first playoff start, remained steady in the final moments, finishing with 24 saves to secure the win.
In a post-game interview with CBS Sports goal scorer Logan O’Connor explained how the Avalanche play so well in the playoffs, “For us, our game translates well to the playoffs. It’s a lot of simplicity and muck it up and just wear teams down.”
The Avalanche now lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 set for Tuesday night in Denver.
