Welcome to Last Word On Hockey’s coverage of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Throughout the playoffs, our writers will preview, predict, and review all the matchups, giving in-depth analysis. For this Western Conference Finals series preview, we will take a look at the Vegas Golden Knights against the Colorado Avalanche. Game 1 will start at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time or 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Wednesday, May 20th, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Credit Image: © Isaiah Downing/Southcreek/ZUMApress.com
2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Finals: Vegas Golden Knights vs Colorado Avalanche Series Preview
To start off the preview, let us look at the tale of the tape for both teams. Both regular-season and playoff numbers will be included (the second value in the goals for/against and special teams categories represents the playoff metrics).
| Vegas Golden Knights | Colorado Avalanche | |
| Record | 39-26-17 | 55-16-11 |
| Season Series | 1-1-1 | 2-0-1 |
| Goals For/Game | 3.22 (14th) / 3.67 (3rd) | 3.63 (1st) / 4.11 (1st) |
| Goals Against/Game | 2.95 (12th) / 2.58 (5th) | 2.40 (1st) / 2.56 (4th) |
| Power Play | 24.6% (6th) / 25.7% (4th) | 17.1% (27th) / 25.0% (6th) |
| Penalty Kill | 81.4% (7th) / 86.8% (5th) | 84.6% (1st) / 79.3% (11th) |
2025-26 Season Series Recap and the Two Teams’ Run So Far
Colorado won two out of the three games in the season series, although one of the wins was decided in a shootout. For all intents and purposes, that could be called a “tie” in this context. Colorado outscored Vegas 11-10 in those three games. Although there is a large disparity between their regular-season records, if the season series tells us anything, it tells us that this series could be closer than expected.
The Avs have had a relatively easy time so far, sweeping the Los Angeles Kings and knocking off the Minnesota Wild in five games. For Vegas, they defeated both the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games. In both series, it looked like Vegas might be on the ropes, but they saved their best games for last to decisively win the series-clinching game in both rounds. Now, the 2022 and 2023 Stanley Cup champions will do battle for a chance to win it all in the finals once again.
Team Outlook and Keys to Victory for the Golden Knights
It has been a tumultuous season for the Knights, with just 39 wins in the regular season. They were essentially a one-period team for a lot of the season, doing a lot of the key work in the final 20 way too often. That led to their 17 overtime losses. However, those overtime loss points were enough to propel Vegas to first place in the underwhelming Pacific Division. The middling results led to the firing of Bruce Cassidy and the hiring of veteran coach John Tortorella. So far, the coaching change seems like a genius move, as the team went 7-0-1 in the final eight games of the season under him, and they are now in the Western Conference Finals.
Toronto Maple Leafs fans may be quaking in their boots as Mitch Marner is leading the NHL in scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His playmaking skills and offensive capabilities have been on full display. Pavel Dorofeyev leads the league in playoff goals with nine, followed by Brett Howden with eight. Although they missed their captain, Mark Stone, for the last three games against Anaheim, Vegas’ offence is still firing on all cylinders. If the likes of Tomas Hertl could also get going, Vegas could look a lot more dangerous. If Stone also returns early in the series, the team will regain a player who is responsible in all areas of the ice.
Another big story is the resurgence of Carter Hart. After a rough regular season, Hart has emerged as a strong playoff performer and a large reason why the Knights have made it this far. He has a 2.37 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage through 12 games, playing the second-most minutes in the playoffs so far, behind Jakub Dobes. Undoubtedly, he will continue as the starting goalie in this series.
Team Outlook and the Avalanche’s Keys to Victory
Colorado was largely able to shut the Wild down because of their depth. All four lines contributed greatly against Minnesota. While Nathan MacKinnon and his line were able to take over games, the team did not need to rely on their line to win. They scored four or more goals on four occasions in the second round and were unrelenting offensively.
Goaltending will be a topic of conversation for the Avs, as both their goaltenders had struggles in the second round and were pulled at some point. In Game 5 versus the Wild, Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled early in the game, giving way to Scott Wedgewood, before the team in front of the goaltenders pulled off a massive comeback. Based on overall performance, Wedgewood should be the starting goaltender for Game 1, but Blackwood could get some action in the series as well.
If Colorado’s power play continues succeeding as it did in round two, they will be virtually unstoppable. While they had only the 27th-ranked power play in the regular season and a tough time in round one, they scored five goals on thirteen opportunities against Minnesota. They scored a power play goal in four of the five games in the series. Against a veteran Vegas defensive squad, it may not be as easy to do the same in this round.
Series Prediction and Best Bets
Once again, the odds heavily favour the Avalanche, to no one’s surprise. However, we all know Vegas has been here before and has a very veteran squad that has been through this level of hockey. Both teams will be rested, so that should not be a factor. A key part of this series may rest on the health of Vegas captain Mark Stone. Without Stone, the depth of Vegas will be tested mightily, and against a deep team like Colorado, that could spell a recipe for disaster. Nonetheless, Colorado’s toughest matchup in the West may already have been behind them.
Prediction: Avalanche win the series in 5 games.
Main Photo Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
NHL announces schedule and start times for 2026 Conference Final matchups pic.twitter.com/sr6qb1khcy
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) May 18, 2026
