Colorado Pulls Past Kings in NHL Stanley Cup Postseason Round 1 Play

The Colorado Avalanche won Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Sunday with the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 2–1.

Brock Nelson #11 of the Colorado Avalanche advances the puck against Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings in the second period of Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on April 19, 2026. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The Colorado Avalanche won Game 1 over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday, 2–1, in Denver to lead the best-of-seven series in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs.

The Avalanche scored first in the game at Ball Arena in Denver, after a scoreless first period, at 15:29 in the second period with a goal by Artturi Lehkonen. His wrist shot found its way past King’s goaltender Anton Forsberg. Colorado’s Nathan Mackinnon assisted on Lehkonen’s goal in the Western Conference postseason series.