Golden Knights set for Western Conference final

The Vegas Golden Knights are set to open the Western Conference final against the Colorado Avalanche after coach John Tortorella addressed the matchup at a May 18 media session reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The series will begin Wednesday, May 20, at Ball Arena in Denver, according to schedules published by the NHL and the Golden Knights. Colorado has home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, while Vegas entered as the Pacific Division’s top seed. ### When does the series start, and where? The Golden Knights said on May 14 that Game 1 will be played on Wednesday, May 20, at 5 p.m. Pacific time in Denver. Game 2 is set for Friday, May 22, also at Ball Arena, before the series shifts to Las Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday, May 24, and Game 4 on Tuesday, May 26, at T-Mobile Arena. (reviewjournal.com) The team schedule lists Games 5 through 7, if necessary, for May 28 in Denver, May 30 in Las Vegas and June 1 in Denver. The Golden Knights said U.S. broadcasts will air on ESPN, with radio coverage on the VGK Radio Network. ### How did Vegas and Colorado get here? NHL.com said Colorado reached the conference final with a 4-3 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 of the second round on May 14. (nhl.com) Vegas advanced one day later with a 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 at Honda Center. The NHL said this is the Avalanche’s first trip to the Western Conference final since 2022. (nhl.com) The Golden Knights’ own schedule release said the series marks the second postseason meeting between the two teams. The Review-Journal separately described it as a rematch five years after their 2021 playoff meeting. ### What did Tortorella address before the series? (nhl.com) The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on May 18 that Tortorella discussed the upcoming series against Colorado at a team media session. The outlet’s item was presented as a video report and did not include game dates or prior-round series scores in the text shown. The same Review-Journal page said Tortorella had no further comment after the NHL fined him $100,000 on Friday for skipping his media availability after Game 6 of the Anaheim series. That disciplinary matter sits alongside Vegas’ preparation for Colorado as the conference final approaches. (reviewjournal.com) ### Which players shape the matchup most? Mitch Marner enters the series leading Vegas and the NHL this postseason with 18 points in 12 games, according to NHL.com. Jack Eichel has 15 points, while Pavel Dorofeyev leads the NHL with nine playoff goals and Brett Howden has eight. Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with 13 playoff points, and Martin Necas has 11, NHL.com said. (reviewjournal.com) Goaltender Scott Wedgewood carried a 7-1 record into the series, while Carter Hart was 8-4 for Vegas. ### What do the regular-season meetings show? NHL.com said Colorado went 2-0-1 against Vegas during the regular season. Necas recorded six points in those three games, while MacKinnon had four. (nhl.com) For Vegas, NHL.com said Marner and Tomas Hertl each posted four points against Colorado in the regular-season meetings. Those results do not affect the playoff format, but they help explain why the Avalanche open at home on May 20 with the first two games in Denver. (nhl.com) ### What happens next for Vegas? Wednesday, May 20, is the next concrete date on the calendar, with puck drop set for 5 p.m. (nhl.com) Pacific time at Ball Arena. The Golden Knights and Avalanche then return to Denver for Game 2 on May 22 before the series moves to Las Vegas on May 24. (nhl.com)