The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche will officially begin their best-of-seven Western Conference Final matchup tonight in Denver when the two clubs go head to head in Game 1.
The stakes couldn’t be higher.
One of these teams will go home, both empty and empty-handed, while the other will continue its pursuit for Lord Stanley’s ultimate prize with a final battle against Carolina or Montreal.
This is the second postseason meeting between the Golden Knights and Avalanche.
Vegas is 13-14-4 all-time against Colorado but won the only other playoff matchup in six games back in 2020-21. Vegas went 4-4-0 against the Avalanche during the regular season that year before falling into a 2-0 hole in the series. Game 1 was a blowout (a 7-1 win for the Avalanche), and Colorado won Game 2 in overtime. However, the Golden Knights went on to win four straight to eliminate the Avs and advance to the third round.
The Avalanche and Golden Knights went on to become back-to-back Stanley Cup champions in 2022 and 2023, respectively, with Colorado winning its third Cup (first since 2001) and Vegas clinching its first-ever title.
This time around, both rosters are especially deep, with plenty of experience and championship pedigree throughout. Additionally, both clubs are perennial contenders and enter this series with extraordinarily high expectations.
In fact, it’s win or bust for both franchises.
This is true especially for the Avalanche, who won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the NHL during the regular season with 121 points.
Colorado made several moves at the deadline to improve its chances, including reacquiring Nazem Kadri, who was part of the Cup team in 2022, as well as trading for defenseman Brett Kulak. The Avalanche also landed former Golden Knights forward Nicolas Roy from Toronto. Roy has three goals and six points in nine games during this playoff run and will remain a versatile threat when he takes on his former team.
The Golden Knights, by contrast, acquired defenseman Rasmus Andersson in January and then upgraded its fourth line by adding center Nic Dowd and winger Cole Smith.
Both clubs have relied heavily on depth. Of the 17 skaters who have played in at least six games, only defenseman Brent Burns has yet to light the lamp for Colorado in the postseason. In the second round, four different Avalanche players scored game-winners. That being said, Nathan MacKinnon leads the team in scoring with seven goals and 13 points, while Martin Necas has a team-high 10 helpers.
For the Golden Knights, Mitch Marner leads the entire league in scoring with 18 points in the postseason, and Jack Eichel is second with 15. As far as goals, MacKinnon (who is third in points) is tied with Marner (and several other players) for third overall with seven goals, but the Golden Knights have the top two scorers in Pavel Dorofeyev (nine) and Brett Howden (eight).
But Marner has been the biggest surprise for Vegas this postseason. The same player who earned a reputation of disappearing in big games in Toronto has completely flipped the script in Vegas, where he is flourishing. Marner has transformed his game and was particularly sensational as the Anaheim series wore on. He took over games with 11 points in six contests, demonstrating his elite 200-foot game, taking care of all the details, making plays and putting the puck in the net.
There are players on both sides who have yet to break out, making this series all the more intriguing. But the Golden Knights will have to tame the formidable Avalanache.
This matchup often brings the best out of both sides, and renewing the rivalry between two of the best teams should make for entertaining hockey. But the compete level will need to be sky-high at all times. Though Colorado is favored, Vegas is considered to be the Avalanche’s greatest threat of the postseason, and vise versa.
May the best team win.
How they got here
The Avalanche have played just nine postseason games, sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and knocking off the Minnesota Wild in five games in round two. Game 5 of that series was particularly memorable, as the Avalanche were trailing 3-1 late in the third period but mounted an epic comeback, scoring twice in the final 3:33 of regulation and clinching the series less than four minutes into overtime.
The Avalanche have taken 2-0 series leads in both rounds thus far, going 2-0 in overtime and outscoring their opponents 37-20, including 24-18 in the second round. Goaltending has been consistent, and the power play surged against Minnesota.
The Golden Knights defeated both Utah and Anaheim in six games in the first and second rounds, respectively. Goaltending has been a strength on the whole, particularly in the second round. Relatedly, Vegas’ penalty kill has been the star of the postseason, giving up just five goals while scoring four shorthanded tallies. The power play hasn’t been as reliable, though it has come up with some key goals and can still be dangerous.
For a team that fired its coach with eight games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights have taken full advantage of the returns of Carter Hart and William Karlsson, and the overall fresh start seems to have reset things for Vegas.
Both the Golden Knights and Avalanche are coming off impressive series-clinching wins, and both teams are confident and well-rested ahead of what is sure to be a clash of the titans.
Injury report
“There’s no updates on injuries now,” John Tortorella told the media after Wednesday’s morning skate.
Stone was seen skating with the other Vegas scratches, marking the first time he’s skated since the injury. That’s a good sign for his potential availability moving forward, though he’s expected to miss Game 1.
Jeremy Lauzon also remains out of commission, though Brayden McNabb is expected to return to the lineup after serving his one-game suspension in Game 6 against the Ducks.
The Avalanche revealed some significant news on Wednesday, announcing that Cale Makar, widely considered the best defenseman in the NHL, will not play in Game 1. Makar has not practiced much throughout the playoffs, and he was not on the ice yesterday, though he didn’t miss any time through the first two rounds.His status for the rest of the series is unknown.
That being said, defenseman Sam Malinski and forward Arrturi Lehkonen will return to Colorado’s lineup for Game 1 after missing Games 4 and 5 in the Minnesota series.
By the numbers
REGULAR SEASON
Record
Vegas: 39-26-17—95
Colorado: 55-16-11—121
Leading scorers
Vegas: Eichel (27-63—90), Marner (24-56—80), Stone (28-45—73), Dorofeyev (37-27—64)
Colorado: MacKinnon (53-74—127), Necas (38-62—100), Makar (20-59—79), Nelson (33-32—65)
Goals For (NHL rank)
Vegas: 3.22 (14th)
Colorado: 3.63 (1st)
Goals Against (NHL rank)
Vegas: 2.95 (12th)
Colorado: 2.40 (1st)
Shots For (NHL rank))
Vegas: 29.0 (8th)
Colorado: 33.7 (1st)
Shots Against (NHL rank)
Vegas: 24.4 (2nd)
Colorado: 26.1 (5th)
Power play (NHL rank)
Vegas: 24.6 percent (6th)
Colorado: 17.1 percent (27th)
Penalty kill (NHL rank)
Vegas: 81.4 percent (7th)
Colorado: 84.6 percent (1st)
PLAYOFFS
Leading scorers
Vegas: Marner (7-11—18), Eichel (1-14—15), Dorofeyev (9-2—11), Howden (8-2—10)
Colorado: MacKinnon (7-6—13), Necas (1-10—11), Landeskog (3-5—8), Toews (2-6—8)
Goals For (NHL rank)
Vegas: 3.67 (3rd)
Colorado: 4.11 (1st)
Goals Against (NHL rank)
Vegas: 2.58 (5th)
Colorado: 2.56 (4th)
Shots For (NHL rank)
Vegas: 27.5 (11th)
Colorado: 32.6 (2nd)
Shots Against (NHL rank)
Vegas: 29.3 (8th)
Colorado: 26.1 (4th)
Power play (NHL rank)
Vegas: 25.7 percent (4th)
Colorado: 25.0 percent (6th)
Penalty kill (NHL rank)
Vegas: 86.8 percent (5th)
Colorado: 79.3 percent (11th)
Season series
The Golden Knights finished the 2025-26 season series against the Avalanche with a 1-1-1 record, losing in regulation and a shootout and winning in overtime. The overtime win helped the Golden Knights punch their ticket to the second season, but playoff hockey is a different animal.
Even so, the Golden Knights were winless against the Ducks during the regular season but still managed to handle them in the second round, so the season series doesn’t always translate. Historically, the Golden Knights and Avalanche have almost always split the season series, though Vegas has just two winning records (2-0-1 in 2017-18 and 2-0-1 in 2023-24).
Oct. 31 — Golden Knights vs. Avalanche: 4-2 L
Colorado scored less than a minute into the first period and led 2-0 after 40 minutes on Vegas’ celebration of Nevada Day. A Vegas power-play goal early in the third cut the deficit to one. The two teams traded goals throughout the third, with the Avalanche restoring their two-goal lead followed by another goal from Vegas less than two minutes later (making it a 3-2 game at 12:01 of the third). But Vegas was unable to climb back, falling 4-2 thanks to Makar’s empty-net goal at 18:22. Tomas Hertl, Marner and Makar had two points apiece, while Necas led all players with three (one goal and two assists). | RECAP
Dec. 27 — Golden Knights vs. Avalanche: 6-5 (SO) L
This was a thrilling game but a disappointing defeat for the Golden Knights, who blew multiple leads and ultimately came up short in the shootout. In the first game after the Christmas break, the Golden Knights led 2-0, 4-2 and 5-4 but were unable to hold off the Avs. The Golden Knights scored two goals in 29 seconds to make it 4-2 after two, but Colorado outscored the Golden Knights 3-1 in the third, forcing extra time. Colorado was the better team in overtime and then won the skills competition, with MacKinnon netting the game-winner against Hart. MacKinnon and Malinski had three points, while 12 different Golden Knights skaters found the scoresheet. | RECAP
April 11 — Golden Knights at Avalanche: 3-2 (OT) W
Both teams traded goals in the first and second periods, and a scoreless third set up overtime. The Golden Knights clinched a playoff berth thanks to Eichel’s heroics just 1:19 into the extra frame. On the whole, this was the type of performance Vegas needs to use as a blueprint for this series, as the Golden Knights played fast, remained patient and kept up with Colorado throughout the contest. | RECAP
Goalie matchup
Hart has been excellent between the pipes, and he has delivered some of his best performances in recent games, giving up two or fewer goals in six of his last seven contests. He is 7-2 in his last nine and is sixth among playoff goalies with 4.2 goals saved above expected, more than twice as many as Colorado’s netminders, who have a combined 1.97.
For the Avs, Scott Wedgewood has been named the starter for Game 1. He had a career season this year, going 31-6-6, and even when MacKenzie Blackwood returned from injury, Wedgewood was relied upon heavily throughout the campaign. He is 7-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .914 save percentage this postseason.
The two goalies’ numbers are similar, though the Avalanche have only lost once. Hart has been tested more and has had to deliver more, but Wedgewood is more than capable of turning out a stellar performance. He is 4-1-1 all-time against Vegas, while Hart is 3-3-1 against the Avalanche throughout his career.
Hart went 1-0-1 in the season series, while Wedgewood won both of his starts.
Special teams breakdown
The Golden Knights have been excellent on the penalty kill throughout the playoffs, ranking fifth overall with an 86.8 percent kill rate. The penalty kill has been the backbone of Vegas’ game for quite some time, and it has reached new heights this postseason. In the second round, Vegas went 18-for-22 (81.8 percent) and scored twice while shorthanded.
Once again, the Golden Knights will have their hands full, as Colorado enters the matchup with a red-hot power play that went 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) in the second round. Overall, the Avs rank sixth with a 25 percent conversion rate, but things opened up against Minnesota. The Golden Knights have to come up with an answer.
Vegas has the fourth-ranked power play (25.7 percent) with nine goals on 35 chances this postseason. The Golden Knights put up similar numbers to Colorado (albeit in one extra game) in the second round, going 5-for-15 (33.3 percent). The Vegas power play still isn’t firing on all cylinders, especially without Stone, though it has scored some key goals at opportune moments. It will need to continue to do so. The Avalanche’s penalty kill is clicking at 79.3 percent, going 23-for-29, though it improved to 10-for-13 in the second round (76.9 percent), which ranked fifth.
Keys to the series
Depth
Both teams have star players.
The names speak for themselves. MacKinnon. Makar. Eichel. Marner. Stone.
Both teams will be without one of those stars in Game 1, as Makar and Stone are not expected to play.
Of course, any of those players can put his team on his back and make one play that could alter the game or even the series. The talent is there.
Even so, this series could come down to depth, or at least some of the team’s secondary weapons.
Necas, for example, recorded 100 points in his first full season with Colorado after being acquired in the Mikko Rantanen trade. Necas isn’t a depth player by any means, but he’s also not MacKinnon. Similarly, Dorofeyev may have led the Golden Knights in scoring in the regular season with a career-high 37 goals, but he’s not Eichel. Though he’s currently on the top line, he was a middle-six forward for most of the season.
However, the Golden Knights are often at their best when Dorofeyev and Hertl are trading goals. Hertl managed to end his cold streak with goals in Games 4 and 5 against Anaheim but still isn’t the same dominant force he’s capable of being. With Karlsson on the second line, the third line hasn’t been enough of a factor in general, which will need to change considering the depth Colorado boasts.
If necessary, Tortorella could elect to call upon Reilly Smith at some point this series. Tortorella likes the way Brandon Saad is playing, but Smith brings a clutch factor Vegas may need. Saad hasn’t quite demonstrated it yet, though he may be more motivated against his former team. He scored seven goals and eight points in 10 games with Colorado in 2021, including four goals and five points in the series against Vegas.
For the Golden Knights, the top two lines have been excellent, especially the new-look second line of Marner, Karlsson and Howden, with Howden emerging as a big-game player. He has three shorthanded goals, which ties an NHL record for most shorthanded tallies in a single postseason, and he and Marner lead the team with two game-winning goals in the playoffs (Roy also has two). Howden is second among all players in goals (eith through 12 games) after scoring 12 in 58 games during the regular season. All eight of Howden’s playoff goals have come in his last nine games.
Shea Theodore came alive in the Anaheim series and is tied for first among all defensemen with four goals. Theodore is second among active blueliners in scoring with nine points, trailing only Montreal’s Lane Hutson (14).
Colton Sissons, who is skating on the third line with Hertl and Saad, has two goals and five points, while Dowd and Cole Smith have a combined four goals and six points. Andersson has been quiet offensively, with just three helpers in 12 games, though he could heat up at any point.
For the Avs, Lehkonen has three goals and six points in seven games, Roy has six points in nine games, and Jack Drury and Parker Kelly have a combined four goals. Seventeen different players have scored for Colorado, with seven different people recording game-winners, while Vegas has had 12 different players light the lamp, including six who potted game-winners.
At the end of the day, there’s no shortage of starpower in this series, but the matchup could prove to be a battle of depth.
Jumping ahead
The Golden Knights have played from behind on far too many occasions this season, and it very well could happen frequently in this series. The Avalanche have a quick-strike offense, and the level of skill throughout the lineup could lead them to score in bunches.
The Golden Knights are no strangers to offense, but Vegas may have to pick its moments more carefully. The Avalanche may control possession, though that’s not unfamiliar territory for the Golden Knights after the Anaheim series. In fact, Vegas has fared well when being outshot (5-3), and the Golden Knights remain a strong third-period team.
The same is true of Colorado, however. In fact, Colorado has scored seven times in the first period, nine times in the second and a league-high 19 times in the third, with two overtime winners.
Vegas has scored more evenly throughout the game, with 13 goals in the first, 11 in the second and 17 in the third (along with three overtime tallies). The two clubs are first and second in third-period goals, though Colorado has played three fewer games.
One major difference is playing with a lead, though. The numbers are skewed since Colorado has only lost once, but the statistics are very telling when it comes to the Golden Knights.
In fact, Vegas is 4-0 when leading after one and 6-0 when leading after two periods. By contrast, the Golden Knights are 1-2 when trailing after 20 minutes and 1-3 when trailing after 40. Considering the Avalanche have outscored every other playoff team in the third period, the Golden Knights need to try to get ahead and stay ahead.
Patience
The Golden Knights have to continue to play well without the puck. All of the little details that go into a win need to be polished and on full display in Vegas’ game. The Golden Knights can’t take shortcuts against the Avalanche. The consequences will be costly.
Vegas needs to find another gear for this series. Vegas has top-five special teams units and has scored a lot this postseason, but the Golden Knights will need to continue to rely on the penalty kill. Though Colorado was not good on the power play during the regular season, the Avs had the top unit in the second round after going 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) against Minnesota.
The Golden Knights slowed down Anaheim’s high-flying man-advantage, and they will need to do the same against the Avalanche, even without Makar in the lineup. Discipline will be a key part of that, especially when it comes to momentum. Even when the Avs don’t score, their power play is dangerous enough that it creates momentum. The Golden Knights can’t give Colorado’s best players more time and space to wreak havoc and control the tempo of the game.
Similarly, the Golden Knights have to capitalize on their opportunities. There may be stretches during the game where Vegas is hemmed in its own end, but that doesn’t mean lanes won’t open up. The Golden Knights have to strike during those windows. But they need to be patient: they can’t overcommit in pursuit of offense while sacrificing their defensive structure. It will be all hands on deck around both creases, but the Golden Knights have to take care of their own net before taking chances at the other.
Projected lineups
Golden Knights
Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel Dorofeyev
Brett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch Marner
Brandon Saad — Tomas Hertl — Colton Sissons
Cole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan Kolesar
Brayden McNabb — Shea Theodore
Noah Hanifin — Rasmus Andersson
Ben Hutton — Dylan Coghlan
Carter Hart
Adin Hill
Avalanche
Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Artturi Lehkonen — Brock Nelson — Nicolas Roy
Ross Colton — Nazem Kadri — Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews — Sam Malinski
Brett Kulak — Brent Burns
Jack Ahcan — Josh Manson
Scott Wedgewood
MacKenzie Blackwood
How to watch
Game 1: Wednesday, May 20 at 5 p.m. PT at Ball Arena (Denver, CO) — ESPN
Game 2: Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m. PT at Ball Arena (Denver, CO) — ESPN
Game 3: Sunday, May 24 at 5 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV) — ESPN
Game 4: Tuesday, May 26 at 6 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV) — ESPN
Game 5*: Thursday, May 28 at 5 p.m. PT at Ball Arena (Denver, CO) — ESPN
Game 6*: Saturday, May 30 at 5 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, NV) — ABC
Game 7*: Monday, June 1 at 5 p.m. PT at Ball Arena (Denver, CO) — ESPN
*If necessary
Statistics courtesy of Money Puck and Hockey Reference.
Photo courtesy of the Golden Knights