Kings can’t solve Scott Wedgewood in Game 1 loss to Avalanche
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Kings left wing Artemi Panarin shoots and scores against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Kings left wing Artemi Panarin, right, celebrates after a goal with teammate Quinton Byfield (55) during the third period of Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Kings defenseman Brian Dumoulin (2) is helped off the ice by teammates Joel Armia (40) and Scott Laughton (21) after an injury during the second period of Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Kings center Anze Kopitar waits for a face-off during the second period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Kings interim head coach D.J. Smith, top, talks with right winger Alex Laferriere (14) during the first period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O’Connor (25) scores against Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during the third period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (partially obscured) celebrates after a goal against Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg, left, with teammates, including Devon Toews (7) and Cale Makar (8), during the second period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) celebrates after a goal against Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during the second period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood blocks a shot against the Kings during the first period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg makes a save against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
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Kings left wing Artemi Panarin shoots and scores against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of Game 1 in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo Jack Dempsey)
DENVER — Logan O’Connor scored for the first time in more than a year, Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 shots in his first Stanley Cup playoffs start and the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche beat the Kings 2-1 in Game 1 on Sunday.
O’Connor’s third-period tally was his first since March 31, 2025. He missed most of the season with a hip injury. Artturi Lehkonen had a second-period goal for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.
Wedgewood got the nod in net over Mackenzie Blackwood after leading the league in goals-against average and save percentage. Wedgewood made four career playoff appearances in relief before Sunday’s start.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Denver.
Artemi Panarin scored a power-play goal with 2:22 left to make it 2-1. Shortly after, forward Joel Armia was called for high-sticking and the Kings were unable to tie it up.
Anton Forsberg stopped 28 shots in his NHL postseason debut.
Nathan MacKinnon had an assist on Lehkonen’s goal to give him 32 career points in Game 1s. He trails only Joe Sakic (42) for the most Game-1 points in franchise history.
The game got chippy in the third period, with Cale Makar taking a shove to the back by Adrian Kempe. Captain Gabriel Landeskog later stood up for Makar and got into it with Kempe. Both drew roughing calls.
There were a combined 84 hits.
Colorado nearly scored earlier in the second when O’Connor sent a shot past Forsberg. But as the horn sounded, the officials signaled no goal. It was ruled Jack Drury made contact with Forsberg following a collision with Drew Doughty. The Avalanche challenged but the call stood.
