Avalanche hold off Kings to win close Game 1 in Stanley Cup Playoffs

[p]They are now 42-0-0 this season when leading after the second period. Goalie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wedgewood-scott/lAPibPUq/"]Scott Wedgewood[/a] put up 25 saves in his first career playoff win, while his teammates outshot the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-kings/CIDo8i2o/"]Kings[/a] 30-25. [/p][p]Things were a little slow in the first as the Avs had a chance with the only power play of the period, but failed to put anything up on the board. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-kings/CIDo8i2o/"]Los Angeles[/a]' [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doughty-drew/WKguxKQ4/"]Drew Doughty[/a] came close to being the first to score in the series, but missed just wide of the net. [/p][p]The Kings were held to just five shots in the period.[/p][embed guid="e3f515af-06b4-4056-800a-32e455a744fc" url="https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/status/2045952892188655915?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The second period picked up a bit more as both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play, including a 4-on-4 situation as well. [/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colorado-avalanche/hACAnvBa/"]Colorado[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/o-connor-logan/f9oZNUSr/"]Logan O'Connor[/a] thought he had the game's first goal, but it was eventually called back for goalie interference. If it stood, the goal would've marked O'Connor's first-ever playoff goal.[/p][embed guid="85663906-990e-48be-9cc7-16d2da6d0239" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ptR2n0EDQ" social-type="youtube" /][p]It would take until 4:29 left in the second period for the Avs to finally get on the board. [/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehkonen-artturi/Qidrk0XD/"]Artturi Lehkonen[/a] scored his first goal of the playoffs after a puck rebounded off Kings goaltender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/forsberg-anton/WlFCFscl/"]Anton Forsberg[/a] from a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mackinnon-nathan/dhMyX3sE/"]Nathan MacKinnon[/a] shot to make it [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/colorado-avalanche-hACAnvBa/los-angeles-kings-CIDo8i2o/?mid=tSntPCH7"]1-0[/a].[/b][/p][embed guid="34da88ed-b2f2-4917-8afc-65baa454167a" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2045968295518519805?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]Almost six minutes into the third period, O'Connor would take advantage of his second opportunity to score his first off the playoffs, fourth of his playoff career, to make it [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/colorado-avalanche-hACAnvBa/los-angeles-kings-CIDo8i2o/?mid=tSntPCH7"]2-0[/a]. [/b][/p][p]O'Connor missed 69 games this season following hip surgery and didn't have a single goal in the 13 regular season games he did play in after coming back. [/p][p]It was his first goal in almost a full calendar year, with his last coming on April 26, 2025, against the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dallas-stars/vVAvnIuC/"]Dallas Stars[/a] in last year's playoffs.[/p][embed guid="ff50c51a-debc-4028-9082-2dea5116a14e" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2045976501602918804?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Kings had an opportune moment before the final 10 minutes of the period began as they went on their third power play.[/p][p]They came close a few times in front of the net, but no cigar - another wasted opportunity. [/p][p]Both teams had another 4-on-4 opportunity after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/landeskog-gabriel/6ikuwFTl/"]Gabriel Landeskog[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kempe-adrian/2gevhK8k/"]Adrian Kempe[/a] were both given two-minute minors for roughing. And, once again, neither team could find the net with the extra ice space. [/p][p]Los Angeles would be given another golden opportunity. Colorado's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nelson-brock/0lwG9VI6/"]Brock Nelson[/a] would get called for a two-minute minor for high-sticking as the Kings would enter their fourth power play of the game. [/p][p][b]They wouldn't be denied a fourth time after Artemi Panarin got one by Edgewood thanks to a perfect screen from veteran Anze Kopitar to make it [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/colorado-avalanche-hACAnvBa/los-angeles-kings-CIDo8i2o/?mid=tSntPCH7"]2-1[/a]. [/b][/p][embed guid="710725e5-9c96-4c2a-be64-721fc46203b9" url="https://x.com/NHL/status/2045983495504208024?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Almost right after Los Angeles cut the lead in half, the Avs would go on their own fourth power play of the game. They almost pulled it off with a perfect two-on-one opportunity in front of the net, but Martin Necas rang it off the crossbar. [/p][p]They'd still cruise to a win as Game 2 between the Avalanche and Kings is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21st, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. [/p][p]Los Angeles' Mikey Anderson and Alex Laferriere finished Game 1 with the highest Flashscore player ratings, as they were the only two to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/colorado-avalanche-hACAnvBa/los-angeles-kings-CIDo8i2o/?mid=tSntPCH7"]put up at least an 8.0[/a].[/p][embed guid="6a665389-29ac-4537-83f8-e4253264b79a" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPkkH6jSUv8" social-type="youtube" /]