SPORTS

Vegas Golden Knights defeat Avalanche 4-2 in opener

PUBLISHED May 21, 2026, 12:06 AM ET

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Sources: 11

Left 9%

Center 82%

Right 9%

Sources: 11

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.

By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Colorado entered the series with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.
Teams prepared during a week off between rounds; coaches adjusted strategy.
Wednesday night — Game 1: Vegas took control in the second period and scored four goals total.
Late in the third, Gabriel Landeskog scored on a power play, making it 3-2 with 2:21 remaining.
Nic Dowd scored an empty-net goal with 44.5 seconds left to seal Vegas’s 4-2 victory; Game 2 set for Friday.

News Intelligence

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.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 9

Who Benefited

The Vegas Golden Knights, their coaching staff and players — highlighted by Carter Hart’s 36 saves and scoring from depth players such as Dylan Coghlan — benefited from the Game 1 victory through momentum, demonstrated depth, and a swing in home-ice advantage dynamics.

Who Impacted

The Colorado Avalanche, including coaching staff and players, suffered a Game 1 loss compounded by defensive miscommunications and the absence of top defenseman Cale Makar, which disrupted blue-line pairings and affected their in-game defensive performance.

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