Vegas Golden Knights face Avalanche

The Vegas Golden Knights are set to face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final after closing out the Anaheim Ducks in six games on Thursday, May 14. Vegas beat Anaheim 5-1 in Game 6 at Honda Center, with Pavel Dorofeyev scoring twice and Mitch Marner adding a goal and an assist, according to NHL.com. Colorado had already advanced on Wednesday, May 13, when it beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 at Ball Arena. The series opens Wednesday, May 20, in Denver. The NHL schedule lists Game 1 at Ball Arena at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, followed by Game 2 on May 22 and Game 3 in Las Vegas on May 24. Game 4 is set for May 26, with later games scheduled if necessary through June 1. ### How did Vegas get here? Vegas clinched the matchup by eliminating Anaheim 4-2 in the second-round series. NHL.com said the Golden Knights scored three first-period goals in the 5-1 win in Game 6, with Marner opening the scoring 1:02 into the game. Pavel Dorofeyev finished the Anaheim series clincher with two third-period goals. Shea Theodore also had a goal and an assist, and Carter Hart made 31 saves for Vegas, NHL.com reported. (nhl.com) Mitch Marner said after the game that the Golden Knights had “worked extremely hard” for their postseason goals and needed to “refuel and refresh” before the next round. ### What did Colorado do before the matchup was set? Colorado secured its place in the Western final one day earlier. NHL.com said the Avalanche advanced for the first time since 2022 by beating Minnesota 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 on May 13 at Ball Arena. Scott Wedgewood said he had been “trying to keep tabs” on the Vegas-Anaheim series while Colorado waited for its opponent. (nhl.com) Brett Kulak said the Avalanche would use the break to rest and then “turn our attention” to Vegas, according to NHL.com. ### Which players are driving the series entering Game 1? Mitch Marner enters the conference final with 18 points in 12 playoff games, which NHL.com said leads both Vegas and the league this postseason. Jack Eichel is next on the Golden Knights with 15 points, including 14 assists. Pavel Dorofeyev leads the NHL with nine playoff goals. For Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon has 13 points and Martin Necas has 11, while Gabriel Landeskog and Devon Toews each have eight points, NHL.com reported. (nhl.com) In net, Carter Hart is 8-4 with a 2.37 goals-against average and.917 save percentage for Vegas. Scott Wedgewood is 7-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and.914 save percentage for Colorado, according to NHL.com. ### What does the regular-season matchup show? Colorado went 2-0-1 against Vegas in the regular season, according to NHL.com’s series preview. Martin Necas had six points in those three games, and Nathan MacKinnon had four. Vegas also got production in the season series from Marner and Tomas Hertl, who each recorded four points. NHL.com said 10 Golden Knights players scored one goal apiece against Colorado during the regular season. (nhl.com) ### What are sportsbooks saying now? VegasInsider listed the Golden Knights at +600 to win the Stanley Cup in odds updated May 13. The same board showed Colorado as the favorite at +130 and Carolina at +160. The published odds page did not verify the specific move from +700 to +600 cited in preliminary material, but it did show Vegas priced behind Colorado and Carolina entering the conference-final round. (nhl.com) ### When and where is the series? The NHL and the Golden Knights both published the full best-of-seven schedule on May 14. Game 1 is May 20 in Denver, Game 2 is May 22 in Denver, Game 3 is May 24 in Las Vegas and Game 4 is May 26 in Las Vegas. If needed, Game 5 is May 28 in Denver, Game 6 is May 30 in Las Vegas and Game 7 is June 1 in Denver. ESPN is listed as the U.S. broadcaster for the series. (vegasinsider.com) The Golden Knights said fans in Canada can watch on Sportsnet or TVA, and the NHL schedule page lists the opening games at 8 p.m. ET. (nhl.com)