NHL Western Conference Final Begins: Colorado vs. Vegas
The first game of the series between the Avalanche and the Golden Knights takes place today. A tense showdown between the two recent Stanley Cup champions is expected, with a possible overtime, which has become a tradition of the current playoffs.
Main Event
Today, May 20, 2026, the Stanley Cup Western Conference Final kicks off. The Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights will face off at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The puck drop is scheduled for 8:00 PM Eastern Time. This is a clash between the two most recent Stanley Cup champions: Colorado won the trophy in 2022, Vegas in 2023. Both teams enter the series as division winners—Central and Pacific, respectively.
Details and Statistics
Colorado had an outstanding regular season, winning the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team. In the playoffs, the Avalanche faced little resistance: they swept Los Angeles in the first round (4-0) and confidently dispatched Minnesota in five games in the second round (4-1). The team leads among remaining participants in goals scored (4.11 per game) and goals against (2.56). The offensive leader is Nathan MacKinnon, who has 13 points (7 goals + 6 assists). Martin Nečas has added 11 points (1+10), and captain Gabriel Landeskog has 8 (3+5). In goal, the primary workload has fallen on Scott Wedgewood (7-1, 2.21 GAA, 91.4% save percentage), though Jared Bednar can turn to Mackenzie Blackwood if needed.
Vegas finished first in the weak Pacific Division with 95 points. In the first round, the Knights defeated Utah in six games (4-2), and in the second, they beat Anaheim by the same score. The playoffs' top scorer is Mitch Marner with 18 points (7+11). Jack Eichel has 15 points (1+14), and Pavel Dorofeyev has scored 9 goals. Goaltender Carter Hart has played all 12 games, posting 8 wins with a 91.7% save percentage and a 2.37 goals-against average. Under John Tortorella, who took over the team in late March, Vegas won 7 of its last 8 regular-season games and confidently advanced through two rounds.
Context and Significance
This is the second playoff meeting between the Avalanche and the Golden Knights. The first was in 2021, ending with a Vegas victory. During the 2025/26 regular season, the teams met three times: Colorado won twice (including one overtime win), and Vegas won once. The aggregate goal tally is 12-10 in favor of the Avalanche.
Experts and bookmakers are unanimous: Colorado is the favorite not only for the series but for the entire Stanley Cup. The odds for the Avalanche to win the Cup are +130, and to win the conference final are around -260. Vegas can be bet at +600 to win the Stanley Cup and +210 to reach the final. Analysts estimate Colorado's probability of winning the series at roughly 70%.
Vegas faces three key tasks: withstand the pace set by Colorado's speedy forwards; capitalize on the power play (25.7%, best among remaining teams); and rely on roster depth, including the third line of Tomáš Hertl and Brandon Saad, which stepped up in the Anaheim series. According to TNT analyst Ed Olczyk, "this will be the toughest challenge for Colorado in these playoffs" due to Vegas's experience and goaltending.
What's Next
Western Conference Final schedule:
- Game 1: Wednesday, May 20 — Vegas at Colorado (ESPN)
- Game 2: Friday, May 22 — Vegas at Colorado (ESPN)
- Game 3: Sunday, May 24 — Colorado at Vegas (ESPN)
- Game 4: Tuesday, May 26 — Colorado at Vegas (ESPN)
- Game 5*: Thursday, May 28 — Vegas at Colorado (if necessary)
- Game 6*: Saturday, May 30 — Colorado at Vegas (if necessary)
- Game 7*: Monday, June 1 — Vegas at Colorado (if necessary)
The series winner will face the Eastern Conference champion in the Stanley Cup Final.
Editorial Prediction
Colorado looks like the predictable favorite: the team has the best goal differential, hasn't lost at home in the playoffs, and has a deeper roster. However, DraftKings analysts caution against overconfidence: Vegas can drag out the series with aggressive physical play, excellent power-play execution (25.7%), and the goaltending factor—if Carter Hart maintains the level he showed in the second round against Anaheim. A separate intrigue is the form of Cale Makar. The Colorado defenseman has only 5 points in 9 games this postseason, which may indicate a hidden injury. If the Avalanche's defensive leader is indeed limited in mobility, it could neutralize the home team's advantage on the blue line and give Vegas a real chance to stay competitive. The most likely scenario is 4-2 in favor of Colorado, but at least one Golden Knights win in Denver seems quite realistic.
— Editorial Team
