Vegas Golden Knights defeat Avalanche 4-2 in opener
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DENVER — The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday night. Dylan Coghlan scored his first playoff goal to open the scoring, and goaltender Carter Hart made 36 saves as Vegas held the lead. Nic Dowd sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 44.5 seconds remaining.
DENVER — The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday night. Dylan Coghlan scored his first playoff goal to open the scoring, and goaltender Carter Hart made 36 saves as Vegas held the lead. Nic Dowd sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 44.5 seconds remaining.
Colorado trailed 3-0 entering the third period before Gabriel Landeskog converted a power-play chance with 2:21 left to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Avalanche pressed for an equalizer but could not score again, and the Golden Knights maintained their lead until Dowd's empty-net goal provided the final margin.
More context
Timeline
- 1. Colorado entered the series with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.
- 2. Teams prepared during a week off between rounds; coaches adjusted strategy.
- 3. Wednesday night — Game 1: Vegas took control in the second period and scored four goals total.
- 4. Late in the third, Gabriel Landeskog scored on a power play, making it 3-2 with 2:21 remaining.
- 5. Nic Dowd scored an empty-net goal with 44.5 seconds left to seal Vegas’s 4-2 victory; Game 2 set for Friday.
Why it matters
This game sets the tone for the Western Conference Final. If you're a fan of either team, it's a glimpse into what to expect. For Vegas supporters, it's a promising start. For Avalanche fans, it's a call to rally behind their team. Check the schedule and tune in for Game 2 on Friday.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
