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 Avalanche, only getting beat when the Los Angeles Kings pulled their goaltender late for a two-man advantage. His steady play, the same steady play he’s given the team since being acquired from the Nashville Predators in November of 2024, was crucial to Colorado’s 2-1 series-opening victory over the Kings.

He made sure to take it all in but admitted the nerves were there.

“Obviously, a long career to get to this point,” he said after his 24-save performance. “Proud to get the start, a little anxious to get going but 1 p.m., you don’t really have much to think about. Just get up, prep and go. Once I got a few shots on, settled down, crowd was into it. First TV timeout, I was talking to (Blackwood). Just kind of felt the heart rate was a little high but once we got going, it felt like a normal hockey game.”

The Avalanche came out flying in the first five minutes, probably the quickest they looked all afternoon, before the Kings started to slow the game down. It wasn’t until the 6:40 mark of the first period that Wedgewood saw his first shot on goal, a good one from the exact player the Kings want shooting.

Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles’ top goal scorer, ripped a shot off Wedgewood’s chest, then moments later, got another look and tried to go high. Wedgewood stood tall, deflecting it away, and just like that, he was in the game.

A few months ago, many would have expected Mackenzie Blackwood to be the starter for the Avalanche when the playoffs opened up. He’ll likely get his chance before the series is up just based on what Bednar has said about rotating the two netminders. But on Sunday, it was Wedgewood that he tapped on the shoulder.

And the 33-year-old held up his end of the bargain.

“I thought he was fantastic,” Bednar said. “(He) did everything he needed to do. Obviously, bigger stakes, more emotion, but played the exact same way that he’s been playing for us all year.”

Regardless of who is in net, the Avalanche will need that type of goaltending. Because, if the Kings get their way, it could be a low-scoring series. Los Angeles played to its identity, clogging up the neutral zone and not allowing the Avalanche to enter the offensive zone with too many odd-man opportunities. That means the Avalanche, the highest scoring team in the NHL during the regular season, might have to be patient while they wait for their chances in this series.

They were in Game 1.

“I’m really happy with the way we played,” Bednar said. “I think that’s the kind of game you can expect playing the Kings. It’s a tight-checking team. What’d they play, 50-something one-goal games and low scoring games? I’m comfortable with that. I think our team’s comfortable with that.”

The Avalanche looked comfortable. Their first goal was disallowed, but they stuck to the process, throwing pucks at the net and finally breaking through with an Artturi Lehkonen rebound goal. Logan O’Connor scored the eventual game-winner in the third period, his first goal in nearly a year, and that was all Colorado needed.

Colorado is built to play fast, but not every playoff game is going to be played like that. On Sunday, it showed a team capable of winning a different way if needed.

Avalanche 2, Kings 1

What happened: The Avalanche out-Kings’d the Kings

What went right: Logan O’Connor’s last goal was on April 26, 2025. He thought he had one in the first, but stuck with it and got the game-winner in the third. O’Connor was arguably Colorado’s best forward outside of Nathan MacKinnon against Dallas last year and could be crucial to their success again this season. “Super happy to get it out of the way,” he said after the game. “Felt like our line, over the course of the last couple weeks here during the season, we were continuing to build things. Just try to stick with our game plan.”

What went wrong: The Kings don’t have a very good power play, but the Avalanche played with fire over the final 30 minutes, taking four penalties during that span. Los Angeles’ only goal was a power-play goal, so if the Avalanche can stay out of the box, they should be in good shape.

Avalanche goal scorers: Lehkonen (1), O’Connor (1)

Kings goal scorers: Panarin (1)

Between the pipes: Wedgewood got the win with 24 saves.

What’s next: Game 2 between these teams will be Tuesday at 8 p.m.