In a game that saw 15 total goals, you'd expect every skater to be caught up in the chaos. But Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brett Kulak proved that even in a high-scoring shootout, shutdown defense still has its place.

Playing just over 25 minutes in Sunday's wild 9-6 Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Wild, Kulak was only on the ice for two of those 15 goals—and one was his own team's tally. The first came on Jack Drury's goal, set up by Logan O'Connor's aggressive forecheck that forced a turnover and created the scoring chance. The second was Marcus Johansson's first-period strike for Minnesota, the first of their six goals on the night.

What's remarkable? The second and third periods combined for 10 goals, and Kulak wasn't on the ice for a single one. While most players had to abandon their usual game plan in the offensive explosion, Kulak stuck to what makes him a valuable piece of any blue line: disciplined, positionally sound defense.

This isn't new territory for the veteran blueliner. Back in 2022 with the Edmonton Oilers, Kulak was part of a 9-6 Game 1 loss to Calgary in the second round, followed by an 8-6 loss to the Avalanche in the opening game of the Western Conference Final. Despite all those goals against, he finished +2 in both contests.

"I've been in playoff games similar to that, for sure," Kulak said. "I think back to 2022, when we played Calgary. I think it was Game 1 in that series; it was crazy. I just remember that game being very similar to last night. This is not what you expected coming in, but here we are. So let's just find a way to make the next shift good and see if we can get the win."

Kulak did more than just make his shifts good—he made them better. He was a key catalyst in Colorado's 4-1 advantage in the third period, when the Avalanche tightened up defensively. He was on the ice for much of that lockdown frame, helping his team close out the win.

"He's a good pro, very intelligent hockey player, and obviously a great defender," head coach Jared Bednar said. "In his preparation, the game is pretty simple. He focuses on the right things to make his game successful. He knows what that is. And he was dialed in on it last night. It's not an easy team to defend against."

For fans who love the defensive side of the game, Kulak's performance is a masterclass in staying true to your role—even when the scoreboard suggests otherwise. And for the Avalanche, having a shutdown defender who can anchor the blue line in any situation is exactly what they'll need as this series heats up.