In a tightly contested Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings lost 2-1 to the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche opened the scoring with a goal from Artturi Lehkonen late in the second period, followed by a second goal from Logan O'Connor early in the third. Despite the Kings' strong defensive effort, including successfully killing all four of Colorado's power-play attempts, they struggled offensively. Artemi Panarin scored the Kings' only goal on a power play with just over two minutes remaining, but they could not generate any further shots on goal to equalize. Goalie Scott Wedgewood of the Avalanche made 24 saves in his first playoff start, while Kings' goalie Anton Forsberg saved 28 of 30 shots. The Kings will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Tuesday night.