For the first time this postseason, the Avalanche find themselves trailing in a series. The Vegas Golden Knights came into Ball Arena on Wednesday and took Game 1 by a score of 4-2. A late push by the Avalanche wasn’t enough this time.

Here are three takeaways from Game 1.

Defensive depth proves shallow

With no Cale Makar, Jack Ahcan stayed in the lineup.

Whether it’s Ahcan or Nick Blankenburg, it’s clear that the Avalanche staff doesn’t have a ton of trust in that sixth defenseman when one of the regulars goes down.

Through two periods, Ahcan was given just eight shifts and played less than seven minutes. He was on the ice for a goal against, but it wasn’t really because of anything he did.

General manager Chris MacFarland had a great trade deadline, but he’s gone on the record saying that he had a deal fall through for a veteran defenseman.

That looms large right now as Colorado’s defensive depth gets tested.

Wedgewood broke

Scott Wedgewood had a great first period, but he was the first goaltender to break in Game 1.

In a tightly contested game, the goal that Wedgewood allowed in the second period to open the scoring for the Golden Knights is one he’s going to want back.

His reaction after the goal would say he agrees. Dylan Coghlan’s shot went right through him.

That was Coghlan’s first goal in an NHL uniform since Dec. 17, 2021.

In the end, that first goal was crucial in a close game like this one.

Top line struggles

All of Colorado’s lines were able to sustain pressure in the offensive zone against the Golden Knights … except for the top line.

The trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Gabriel Landeskog struggled at even strength to create much, outside of a few nice rushes by MacKinnon.

In the third period, Bednar moved things around, putting Necas on a line with Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin while Artturi Lehkonen moved up to play with MacKinnon and Landeskog.

Nichushkin was Colorado’s best forward Wednesday night.