Puck drop between Avs and Kings tonight is listed for 8:22 MST.

Brock Nelson, second line for Avalanche tasked with shutting down Kings’ top players A young Brock Nelson was a “big fan” of Anze Kopitar and the way he plays. He no doubt admires the Kings captain. Most of the time. “Not too much of a fan right now,” Nelson joked after Avalanche prac...

Brock Nelson has long admired Anze Kopitar, telling me earlier this season he was his favorite player when he was a teen.

"Not too much of a fan right now," he joked.

Their two lines look like they’ll see a lot of each other this series.

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/20/b...

Avalanche vs. Kings | 3 keys for Colorado heading into Game 2 The Avalanche walked away with an important Game 1 victory against the Kings, but they didn’t dictate play like they normally do. Here are 3 keys to Colorado taking a commanding lead in the series aft...

Avalanche vs. Kings | 3 keys for Colorado heading into Game 2

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/20/a...

Brock Nelson, second line for Avalanche tasked with shutting down Kings’ top players A young Brock Nelson was a “big fan” of Anze Kopitar and the way he plays. He no doubt admires the Kings captain. Most of the time. “Not too much of a fan right now,” Nelson joked after Avalanche prac...

Brock Nelson has long admired Anze Kopitar, telling me earlier this season he was his favorite player when he was a teen.

"Not too much of a fan right now," he joked.

Their two lines look like they’ll see a lot of each other this series.

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/20/b...

Bednar said “tough decisions” to make yesterday, and special teams played a role in Ross Colton being a scratch for the first time as a member of the Avalanche.

His message?

“Be ready to make an impact when you get an opportunity because there’s no doubt it’s going to come.”

Deadline acquisition Nicolas Roy asserts himself in Game 1 for Avalanche Playoff hockey is for big boys, and Nicolas Roy is a very, very big boy. During Sunday’s 2-1 win, Avalanche fans got the opportunity to see what it’s like to have Roy on their side in a playoff game f...

Playoff hockey is big boy stuff, and Nic Roy is…quite large.

He’s built for this and the #GoAvsGo are benefiting.

“You can't be that physical for 82 games in a row. When it comes playoff time though, I'm all-in. I feel great in these types of games."

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/19/d...

Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood seizes moment, wins first career playoff start On Sunday, Scott Wedgewood became the eighth-oldest goaltender in NHL history to make his first career playoff start. He made sure to make the most of it. Wedgewood was phenomenal in net for the Avala...

Only 7 goaltenders have made their first career playoff start at an older age than Scott Wedgewood.

He's been waiting for this moment, and he seized it.

"Proud to get the start," he said after the Game 1 win for the #GoAvsGo

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/19/a...

Spoke to Nic Roy after the game, who was quite good in Game 1. He said that game was played as they expected.

“Not too much offense. We know they have a really good defensive team, so if we have to win games 1-0 and it takes a while to get goals, then so be it.”

Avalanche vs. Kings | 3 takeaways from Colorado’s Game 1 victory One down, three more to go for the Avalanche. Here are three takeaways from Colorado’s 2-1 win over the Kings in Game 1 on Saturday at Ball Arena.

The Avs went with Joel Kiviranta over Ross Colton in G1 and it worked, but if 2022 taught us anything, they will need Colton at some point if they plan on a long run.

Avalanche vs. Kings | 3 takeaways from Colorado’s Game 1 victory

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/19/a...

Avs hold on to win Game 1. It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes that’s how you have to win the postseason.

Avs take 1-0 series lead.

Brandt Clarke just threw his elbow directly into Logan O'Connor's head and no call.

Clarke had several questionable moments against the Avs during the season that drew their ire. Will be interesting to see how that plays out during this series.

Logan O'Connor scores his first goal since returning from injury. This one will count. 2-0 Avs.

That all started off a great shift by the Lehkonen-Kadri-Roy line.

Challenge Initiated By: Colorado Type of Challenge: Goaltender Interference Result: Call on the ice is confirmed – No Goal Colorado Explanation: The play on the ice was challenged under Rule 38 – Coach’s Challenge. Rule 38.1 states, “In all Coach’s Challenge situations, the original call on the ice will be overturned if, and only if, a conclusive and irrefutable determination can be made on the basis of video evidence that the original call on the ice was clearly not correct. If a review is not conclusive and/or there is any doubt whatsoever as to whether the call on the ice was correct, the original call on the ice will be confirmed.” Video review confirmed Colorado’s Jack Drury interfered with Anton Forsberg, impairing his ability to play his position in the crease prior to the puck entering the net. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.1 which states, in part, “Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal.” Penalty: 2:00 minor penalty: Delay of Game – Unsuccessful Challenge

On the challenge determination:

Avs up 1-0 after two periods.

Game has been pretty even at 5-on-5. Kings have done what they are capable of doing and have slowed the game down. They've also missed a few empty nets.

Have liked Nic Roy's game.

Artturi Lehkonen...because of course.

MacKinnon send sit to the net and Lehkonen just outworks his man.

1-0 Avs.

Period 1 in the books and it's still 0-0.

Kings have to feel good about it. Avs didn't have many Grade-A chances and the one power play opportunity they got was forgettable. Wedgewood was good when called upon.

#GoAvsGo Game 1 lineup

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Kelly - Nelson - Nichushkin
Landeskog - Kadri - Roy
Kiviranta - Drury - O'Connor

Toews - Makar
Kulak - Malinski
Manson - Burns

Wedgewood

No Ross Colton for warmups. It does look like he'll be a healthy scratch. Joel Kiviranta in on the 4th line.

Avalanche to start Scott Wedgewood against Kings in Game 1 Scott Wedgewood has earned his first career playoff start. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was cagey on Saturday afternoon, but he spilled the beans just ahead of the puck dropping between the Colorado A...

Scott Wedgewood led the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage.

That has earned him the Game 1 start for the #GoAvsGo against the Los Angeles Kings.

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/19/a...

This will be Scott Wedgewood’s first career playoff start. He has 4 appearances in relief.

Wedgewood will start for the Avs.

All the stars are in Denver this weekend.

Lionel Messi, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards, Nathan MacKinnon, Cody Ceci, Shohei Ohtani, Cale Makar.

What a time to be alive.

Avalanche trying to buck Stanley Cup trend with ‘unconventional’ goaltending rotation | 2026 Avalanche Playoffs Preview Scott Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood? Why not both?  Jared Bednar is leaning toward doing exactly that. Whether that’s the correct call may have a significant impact on the Stanley Cup hopes of the ...

Blackwood or Wedgewood? The #GoAvsGo plan to use both.

"Why change all of the sudden because it's playoffs if it's worked?"

Rotations rarely work in the playoffs. The Avs think it can. How they manage the situation will be fascinating.

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/18/a...

Jared Bednar is wearing the NFL Guardian Cap to start practice as a joke.

All 7 defensemen, Makar, Toews, Manson, Malinski, Kulak, Burns, Blankenburg, are on the ice as well.

Everyone is in full contact jerseys. Minor correction is that no Bardakov. Everyone else present.

#GoAvsGo  practice lines today…

Lehkonen - MacKinnon - Necas
Kelly - Nelson - Nichushkin
Landeskog - Kadri - Roy
Colton - Drury - O’Connor - Kiviranta - Bardakov all in green.

Top 6 Kelly is a go.

3 keys to Colorado’s first-round series against Kings | 2026 Avalanche Playoff Preview The Avalanche went wire-to-wire as the best team in the NHL. Naturally, they’re considered heavy favorites against the Los Angeles Kings, the team with the lowest point total to qualify for the postse...

On paper, the Avs are heavy favorites in R1.

"From an outsiders standpoint, this is the perfect matchup for round one for the Avalanche," Mike Rupp told me.

The series won’t be played on paper, though.

3 keys to Avs/Kings

www.denvergazette.com/2026/04/18/3...

Fun tidbit heading into this Kings/Avalanche series.

Jared Bednar's 2015/16 Lake Erie Monsters won the AHL championship. His #1 goaltender during that run? Anton Forsberg.

Sure seems like Forsberg will be the #1 guy for the Kings on Game 1 given how he played down the stretch.

Here's the full 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs schedule.

Avs/Kings on Sunday will be at 1 p.m.