| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGK | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| COL | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Golden Knights, Conference Finals Game 1, beat Avalanche 4–2 at Ball Arena on May 20, 2026.
The Vegas Golden Knights have drawn first blood in the Conference Finals, defeating the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1. This victory puts the Golden Knights ahead in the series, leading 1-0 as they push to secure a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals.
With this win, the Golden Knights have taken an early lead in the best-of-7 series. The pressure now shifts to the Avalanche, who will need to respond quickly to avoid falling behind in the series. Historically, the Avalanche have been strong contenders, winning four of their last five matchups against Vegas, but this first game sets a challenging tone for Colorado moving forward.
The game shifted decisively during the second period. Dylan Coghlan opened the scoring for the Golden Knights at 12:29, followed shortly by Pavel Dorofeyev's goal at 15:02, extending their lead to 2-0. Brett Howden then added a third goal early in the third period, leaving the Avalanche in a significant hole.
Although the Avalanche fought back with Valeri Nichushkin scoring at 5:53 and Gabriel Landeskog cutting the deficit to 3-2 late in the game, Nic Dowd sealed the deal with a final goal for Vegas at 19:15, ensuring a two-goal lead by the final buzzer.
Dylan Coghlan and Pavel Dorofeyev were crucial for the Golden Knights, both contributing to the team's early lead with their goals and showcasing how effective their offense can be. The Golden Knights' defensive unit also stepped up, blocking 23 shots and limiting the Avalanche’s scoring opportunities despite Colorado's 38 shots on goal.
For the Avalanche, the efforts of Nichushkin and Landeskog were notable as they generated offense when it was most needed, but they were unable to overcome the strong start from Vegas. Goaltender play and timely defense from the Golden Knights ultimately proved to be too much for Colorado.
Game 2 promises to be pivotal for the Avalanche as they look to bounce back on home ice. They will need to leverage their crowd and strong historical home advantage to even the series. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights will aim to carry their momentum forward and take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Fans can expect an intense matchup as both teams strive for victory in the next clash.
Golden Knights won 4–2.
The final score was Golden Knights 4, Avalanche 2.
Brett Howden, Dylan Coghlan, Nic Dowd, Pavel Dorofeyev.
Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin.
Carter Hart made 36 saves on 38 shots (.947 save percentage).
Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves on 27 shots (.889 save percentage).
At Ball Arena in Denver, the Avalanche home rink.
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