NHL sets dates: Avalanche to face Golden Knights in Western Final

The NHL finalized the Western Conference Final matchup on Friday, setting the Colorado Avalanche against the Vegas Golden Knights after both clubs closed out their second-round series. Colorado advanced with a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 on Wednesday, and Vegas followed with a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 on Thursday, according to NHL.com. The best-of-seven series opens Wednesday, May 20, in Denver. Colorado has home-ice advantage after finishing as the President’s Trophy winner, while Vegas enters as the top seed from the Pacific Division. ### When does the series start, and where are the first games? Game 1 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, at 8 p.m. ET in Denver, the league said in its conference-final schedule release. Game 2 is set for Friday, May 22, also at 8 p.m. ET in Colorado, before the series shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday, May 24. (nhl.com) The Avalanche’s team schedule lists Game 4 for Tuesday, May 26, in Vegas, with the start time still to be determined. If needed, Game 5 would be May 28 in Colorado, Game 6 would be May 30 in Vegas and Game 7 would be June 1 in Denver. ESPN is listed for Games 1 through 5 and 7, with ABC carrying Game 6, according to the club and league schedules. (nhl.com) ### How did Colorado and Vegas get here? Colorado reached the Western final for the first time since 2022 by beating Minnesota in five games. NHL.com said the clincher came on Brett Kulak’s overtime goal in a 4-3 victory at Ball Arena on Wednesday. Vegas advanced one day later by defeating Anaheim in six games. (nhl.com) The Golden Knights completed that series with a 5-1 road win at Honda Center on Thursday, setting up a matchup between the top seeds from the Central and Pacific divisions. ### Which players bring the biggest numbers into the matchup? (nhl.com) Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 13 playoff points, including seven goals, while Martin Necas has 11 points, NHL.com said in its series lookahead. Gabriel Landeskog and Devon Toews each have eight points, and Cale Makar has four goals in the postseason. (nhl.com) Scott Wedgewood has posted a 7-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average and a.914 save percentage in eight playoff games for Colorado, according to NHL.com. Mackenzie Blackwood is 1-0 with a 3.20 goals-against average and an.872 save percentage in three appearances. Mitch Marner enters the series with 18 points in 12 games for Vegas, leading both the Golden Knights and the NHL this postseason, NHL.com said. (nhl.com) Jack Eichel has 15 points, Pavel Dorofeyev has a playoff-leading nine goals, Brett Howden has eight, and goaltender Carter Hart is 8-4 with a 2.37 goals-against average and a.917 save percentage. ### What do the regular-season meetings show? Colorado went 2-0-1 against Vegas in the regular season, according to NHL.com’s preview. Necas recorded six points in those three games, and MacKinnon had four. Vegas got four points apiece from Marner and Tomas Hertl in the season series, NHL.com said. (nhl.com) Colorado’s home-ice edge comes from its regular-season finish atop the league standings, not from a sweep of the matchup. ### What is still unsettled elsewhere in the bracket? Montreal leads Buffalo 3-2 in the Eastern Conference second round and can clinch the series in Game 6 on Saturday, May 16, according to the NHL schedule page. (nhl.com) Carolina is already through and will open the Eastern Conference Final either May 19 or May 21 in Raleigh, depending on whether Buffalo-Montreal ends in six or seven games, the league said. Vegas has already put single-game tickets on sale for its potential home dates. The Golden Knights said Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, Game 4 for Tuesday, May 26, and, if necessary, Game 6 for Saturday, May 30. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2)