The Montreal Canadiens will look to go up 2-0 on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Canadiens won Game 1 6-2. The Hurricanes are favored with a -207 moneyline compared to the Canadiens' +171.
How to watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Avery Hayes took a nice step in the right direction with his development this season. The 5-foot-10 forward appeared in his first 16 NHL games with Pittsburgh this season, where he recorded five goals, 12 penalty minutes, and 23 hits. This included him scoring two goals in his final NHL game of the season with Pittsburgh.
Hayes earned his first look on Pittsburgh's roster this season, as he was excellent in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In 42 games with the AHL club this campaign, he recorded 24 goals, 15 assists, 39 points, and a plus-10 rating. With this, he showed clear signs of improvement and has created more excitement about his future because of it.
Due to how well Hayes played this season, it is clear that he is a breakout candidate to watch on the Penguins next season. The Westland, Michigan native has the tools to emerge as a full-time NHL player, and it would not be surprising if he taps into his offensive potential a bit more next season.
If Hayes can break out next season, it would be big for a Penguins club that is looking to continue to trend in the right direction. It will be fascinating to see if he can do just that from here.
MacKinnon hit the net on 58.66% of his attempts during the regular season, and 46% over the first two rounds. He's sitting at 33% against Vegas, a low number that is not going to sustain itself.
MacKinnon leads the Colorado Avalanche in offensive zone starts this series, putting him in favorable situations to generate shots.
I like him to fire away in essentially a must-win Game 3, and would play the Over up to -160.
Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3 same-game parlay
The Avalanche hold edges in attempts, shots, chances, and high-danger looks. They've scored on 4% of their shots, Vegas has scored on 13%, and that's the difference.
Cale Makar's injury definitely factors in, but Colorado was the highest-scoring team in the league during the regular season, and both of their goaltenders drastically out-performed Carter Hart.
The tide should turn if the Avalanche continue to generate the bulk of the chances, which is to be expected with their backs up against the wall.
Eight of the last nine Avalanche games have featured 6+ goals, and shooting regression should help push this one Over.
Avalanche vs Golden Knights SGP
Nathan MacKinnon Over 3.5 shots on goal
Avalanche moneyline
Over 5.5
Avalanche vs Golden Knights odds for Game 3
Moneyline: Avalanche -135 | Golden Knights +115
Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+180) | Golden Knights +1.5 (-220)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-135) | Under 5.5 (+115)
Avalanche vs Golden Knights trend
MacKinnon has recorded 4+ shots in 11 of his last 14 games against Vegas. Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Golden Knights.
How to watch Avalanche vs Golden Knights Game 3
Location
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Date
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN, Sportsnet
Avalanche vs Golden Knights latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Buffalo Sabres are entering the off-season with some big decisions to make. One of them is with Alex Tuch, as the 30-year-old forward is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA).
If the Sabres are unable to re-sign Tuch and he tests the free-agent market, the Sabres will undoubtedly need to add another forward to their roster. Due to this, let's look at two pending UFAs the Sabres could pivot to if Tuch does not sign an extension with Buffalo.
Bobby McMann, Seattle Kraken
Bobby McMann could be an interesting target for the Sabres to pursue if Tuch ends up not re-signing. The 29-year-old just had a strong season split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken. In 78 games, he recorded 29 goals, 46 points, and 165 hits. With numbers like these, he could be a good energy player for the Sabres to add to their top nine.
Patrick Kane, Detroit Red Wings
Could the Sabres finally bring Patrick Kane home to Buffalo? If the 37-year-old winger ends up not re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings, he could be a player worth bringing in on a one-year deal. His best days are behind him, but he is still an impactful offensive contributor. In 67 games this season with Detroit, he posted 16 goals and 57 points. With numbers like these, the three-time Stanley Cup champion could be a nice pickup for Buffalo.
Former Senators head coach Dave Cameron will be back for another OHL tour of duty.
After signing a two-year extension this week, Cameron, who's 67, will continue to be the 67's head coach for a 6th and 7th season, which will surely give some of our readers an excuse to resurrect the nonsensical "6-7" internet meme for a day or two.
Under Cameron this season, Ottawa had a fine year with 47 wins and 100 points but they ran into an equally good Barrie Colts team in the second round, losing in five games.
"Your best chance for success is the people you work for," Cameron said. "I can't say enough about the organization here in Ottawa and the staff with Jan, Norm and Paul (GM Jan Egert, and assistant coaches Norm Milley and Paul Stoykewych). It's just been a real pleasure to work (here). And throw on top of that, knock on wood, I've been blessed with good health and energy."
Cameron was asked by 67's play-by-play man Kenny Walls how long he wants to keep coaching for.
"Yeah, obviously, when you've been at it as long as I have, the discussion about when you're going to retire is something you do annually," Cameron said. "So, for me, your challenge when you're coaching at the OHL level is your energy level.
"Because I'm at the point where I'm not ready to do anything half-heartedly. And the big thing in that is you have to have good energy, and I love getting up in the mornings. I love going to the rink. I love hockey."
Those are three pretty solid reasons to return.
That love of hockey goes back to his playing days, growing up in PEI, where Cameron won a spot on his hometown University of PEI hockey team. There, he caught the attention of the New York Islanders, who took him in the 8th round of the 1978 draft.
In 1981, the Islanders traded Cameron and Bob Lorimer to the Colorado Rockies for the Rockies' first-round pick in 1983, and the Islanders used it to select some guy named Pat Lafontaine. Cameron spent the 1981-82 season with the Rockies and then two more after they moved to New Jersey and became the Devils.
As for Cameron's coaching path, it's taken him from PEI Junior B to the Colonial Hockey League, the OHL, AHL, NHL, and a two-year stop in Austria.
His NHL coaching experience lies primarily with the Senators, and that connection began all the way back in 2001.
That was the year Eugene Melnyk bought the team Cameron was coaching, the OHL's Toronto St. Michael's Majors. Cameron stayed in the role for another three seasons.
A year after Melnyk bought the Senators in 2003, Cameron shifted to Binghamton to run the Sens AHL bench for three seasons. In 2007, he moved back to Melnyk's OHL team, now called the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, and spent four seasons there.
When the Sens hired Paul MacLean as their head coach, Cameron got his first NHL coaching work as MacLean's assistant in 2011-12, which was also the season Melnyk sold his OHL team.
When MacLean was fired mid-season, three and a half years later, Cameron got the job and guided the Senators to the playoffs that season via the famous Hamburglar Run.
Apr 7, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron speaks with his players leading into the last minute of play in the third period against the Florida Panthers at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Panthers 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
As he did with so many good people in this town, Melnyk then threw a grenade on his relationship with Cameron the following year.
The volatile owner didn't just fire Cameron in 2016; he told the media a few weeks before that one of Cameron's opening night lineup decisions was "stupid." Cameron's firing was the first official act of Pierre Dorion, who had taken over as GM a few days earlier.
"It was hurtful," Cameron said about Melnyk's comments. "I didn't think there was any need for it. I felt like I was fired for three weeks, every day,"
But that was ten years ago, now water under the bridge. And as Dave Cameron begins to think about a 16th season as a coach in the league, life in the OHL today suits him just fine.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This story was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa Senators site. Click on the latest headlines below to read the latest stories there:
For the third straight year, Sam O’Reilly has made his mark on the Memorial Cup stage. The former Edmonton Oilers prospect scored a highlight-reel backhand goal as his Kitchener Rangers cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory over host Kelowna on Saturday, improving to 4-0 in the tournament.
O’Reilly, now a Tampa Bay Lightning prospect, continues to thrive after being traded by Edmonton in a deal that saw the Oilers acquire Isaac (Ike) Howard. The gritty two-way center was named OHL MVP and OHL Playoffs MVP this season, cementing his reputation as a big-game performer who excels in the dirty areas, wins battles along the wall, and contributes offensively in key moments.
Meanwhile, Howard hasn't been able to cement a role in the NHL, which is what the Oilers were hoping might happen when they acquire him.
For Oilers fans, the performance comes with a familiar 'what might have been' feeling.
Edmonton traded O’Reilly last summer, and at the time, many viewed it as a reasonable futures exchange. However, watching O’Reilly dominate the Memorial Cup once again has some supporters second-guessing the decision.
The 20-year-old has now tallied a goal in three consecutive Memorial Cup appearances, showcasing the compete level and clutch ability that made him a prospect many thought had a bright future in the Oilers system. Projecting as a reliable middle-six center with top-six upside, O’Reilly’s development path now belongs to the Lightning, and games like this remind fans that Edmonton might have lost another key part of their future.
While Howard remains a promising piece with high-end skill, O’Reilly’s continued success at junior hockey’s premier event serves as a reminder of the difficult choices NHL teams must make when trying to get better more quickly.
Oilers fans are left to wonder: could O’Reilly have been part of Edmonton’s future core?
For the entire playoffs and even the regular season, the third period has been the Colorado Avalanche period. This season, the Avalanche are +49 in the third period when it comes to scoring, and it has translated into the playoffs as well.
In a tight Los Angeles Kings series that saw the Kings try their best to slow the Avalanche down, they finished +4 in scoring in the third period. In the series against the Minnesota Wild, a series many thought would be a back-and-forth shootout to seven games, the Avalanche prevailed in five games, and were +8 in the third period, helping with many late comebacks, including the infamous Game 5, when they were down 3-1 heading into the third.
It’s clear that if the Avalanche dig themselves into a grave early on, they have shown they have the resources capable to mounting a comeback in attempt to either force the game into overtime or flat out win it in regulation, but against the Golden Knights, its clearly shown that the comeback antics shown in the previous series, can't and shouldn't be relied on if they want to comeback in this series down 0-2.
Showed Flashes In Game 1
Opening the Western Conference Finals didn’t go the way many Avalanche fans wanted. Despite a strong first period that saw both teams really testing each other, it was still scoreless heading into period two, then disaster struck. Knights pushed with a 4-on-3 that saw Dylan Coghlan rifle a shot past Scott Wedgewood five-hole, and Pavel Dorofeyev scored on the power play by a miraculous pass by Marner to make it 2-0 entering the third period.
Only down two goals entering the third? That sounds like no sweat compared to what the Avalanche faced before. Well, it wouldn’t take long before Brett Howden continued to score in the playoffs when he got a lucky bounce to make it 3-0. Now they're in a deeper hole than they would want, but there is the rest of the period to go.
Well, the Avalanche starts the comeback like usual. Valeri Nichushkin opens the scoring six minutes in with a nice redirect through the legs, 3-1. The Avalanche, throughout the period, maintains the pressure and makes it 3-2 late with a nice passing play from Nathan MacKinnon to Gabriel Landeskog, with time still left.
Though they can’t tie it and they lose 4-2, it sucks, but there was a lot to learn from the game. You can’t win every game with a late-period comeback, but it showed they still have that switch in the third, and that's good, right?
Script Is Flipped In Game 2
Still no Cale Makar for Game 2, but as the periods go, the Avalanche show more fight than they did in Game 1. Ross Colton buries a loose puck rebound to open the scoring at 1-0 in the first period and leads it into the second, which remains scoreless but still a one-goal lead entering the third, their best period.
Then they take their foot off the pedal and get a taste of their own medicine, of what it's like for a team to take the lead in the third period. Just about halfway through the period, Devon Toews makes a bad defensive read and lets Jack Eichel with too much room and rifles a shot past Wedgewood to make it 1-1.
Two minutes later, Toews again makes a bad play by failing to clear the puck, turns it over to Eichel, who passes it to Ivan Barbashev and rips it home to make it 2-1. The Avalanche would try to mount a late comeback, but an empty-net goal by Barbashev would end the game and the home stand, down 0-2.
This is a game where, when the Avalanche had the lead, they played as if they wanted to keep it rather than extend it. We have seen this team take leads and continue to pile on goals any which way they can to ensure they have a level of comfort. The box score shows that something has to change heading into Vegas, now down 0-2.
Excuses And Expectations
There is a lot of online talk about the Avalanche so far in these two games, and many agree on some topics and argue about others, but I believe some things are true.
Yes, not having Cale Makar is an absolute disaster for the Avalanche, and it showed. Vegas is changing its approach to the penalty kill now that Makar isn’t quarterbacking it, and guys like Toews and Malinski just don’t put enough pressure on Vegas to make those changes. They'd rather guys like Toews, Malinski, or Brent Burns beat them on a play so they can put more pressure on Martin Necas and MacKinnon, leaving them no room to operate.
But it's just not on him that the team is losing puck battles across the board, making sure that they're more physical than Vegas when it comes to forechecking, putting bodies in front of Carter Hart to take away his vision. Most importantly, not Makar's fault that many of his teammates have just flipped a switch since the Wild series.
Necas has been a shell of himself, MacKinnon just can’t seem to hit the net off a clean look since sniping the game-tying goal against the Wild in Game 5. Toews, despite just the defensive mistakes, can hit the net when he's in the slot. Nichushkin, who did have that great deflection when he was crashing the net, just can't hit the net on the rush when he's taking a shot. Brock Nelson, like Necas, has just been a shell of himself, just not being able to really do anything on the ice.
MacKinnon, Nelson, Lehkonen, and Nichushkin combined for 3 shots on goal at 5-on-5 in Game 2; that's not acceptable. We have been blessed this regular season and past two rounds with great depth that can, and this is the big word here, SUPPORT, the top lines with goal scoring.
Vegas has won the two games because their stars are leading them to victories, while their depth is supporting them both offensively and defensively. Marner, Eichel, Dorofeyev, and Barbashev are leading the team in points, but they're also getting production from guys like Ben Hutton, Colton Sissons, and Brandon Saad. The Avalanche isn’t getting that from their stars so far this series.
MacKinnon hasn’t been selfish enough with the puck, looking to make more shots on goal. Necas needs to do the same if there isn’t a passing lane. Nelson’s two-way game has just vanished, offensively even more, with him only having two goals all playoffs. Nazem Kadri needs to generate more offense, go infront of the net, and be a menace.
It's good to see Burns and Colton, and the depth guys, contributing to the offense. When push comes to shove, the Avalanche top-six is either going to be the reason this team comes back from 0-2 and advances to the Stanley Cup Finals, or is eliminated from the playoffs, and the excuse won’t just be “well, they didn’t have Cale Makar”.
The Hockey News has opened its full archive to subscribers, giving fans access to 76 years of hockey history, feature stories, and unforgettable moments. In the latest issue, we rank the NHL’s top 100 players, with Winnipeg Jets superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck coming in No. 11th overall. Here is a free preview featuring players ranked eight through 12.
Subscribe today to see where other standout Winnipeg players, including Josh Morrissey, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor landed on the list, explore the complete top 100 rankings, and dive into the full THN Archives
Top 100 NHL Players: 8-12 - Apr. 17 2026 - Vol. 79 Issue 10
8 QUINN HUGHES
POS: D | AGE: 26 | LY: 6
> Hughes’ most celebrated attribute is his playmaking ability. But he’s also one of the NHL’s foremost workhorses. He was averaging the 10th-highest ice time in the entire post-lockout era this season, and his workload, which actually increased following his move to Minnesota, was heavier than any other ‘D’ in the past decade.
9 KIRILL KAPRIZOV
POS: LW | AGE: 29 | LY: 10
> It took Kaprizov six seasons and 381 games to rewrite the Wild’s history books. He’s already the franchise’s all-time leading goal-scorer, and he’s steadily chipping away at Mikko Koivu’s franchise-leading point total. Only five NHL players have scored at a greater per-game rate than Kaprizov over the past three seasons.
10 ZACH WERENSKI
POS: D | AGE: 28 | LY: 14
> Name a category in Columbus, and Werenski is probably at or near the top of it. It’s not easy for a defenseman to lead a playoff-contending team in scoring, but that’s the impact the 10th-year NHLer made this season. Werenski also played more than 26 minutes a night – second in the league to Quinn Hughes.
11 CONNOR HELLEBUYCK
POS: G | AGE: 32 | LY: 5
> Never let it be said again that Hellebuyck can’t win the big one. He was heralded as the hero for Team USA at the Olympics. Back in Winnipeg, it was a down year (how could it not be after last year’s heroics?), but his .956 SP in Milan was the third-best ever in an Olympic tournament featuring NHL talent (minimum five games).
12 SIDNEY CROSBY
POS: C | AGE: 38 | LY: 12
> Crosby notched his 21st point-per-game season in a row this year – extending his own all-time NHL record. Even at 38, ‘Sid The Kid’ continues to be an ace two-way player. His early-season heroics helped put the surprising Penguins in the playoff race, and his boffo play after returning from the Olympic injury kept them there.
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Since the Montreal Canadiens beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, there’s been a lot of talk about how Rod Brind’Amour’s team was rusty or how it handed the game to the Habs by not playing up to its own standards. But there’s one insider who’s not buying into that narrative: Elliotte Friedman.
The Sportsnet’s personality made it clear that the Canadiens deserved full credit on his 32 Thoughts podcast:
In a building that was hostile, in a building that was excited, in a building that was difficult to play in, they absolutely smothered them and held on. And not just held on but were never really seriously threatened. And I think if you say “Oh, the Hurricanes had too much rest, they weren’t themselves, they were sloppy...”, that’s not what this story was about. Were they as good as they’ve been? Obviously not. But a big part of that was the team at the other end, and Dobes really outduelled Andersen. This was a full domination; the Canadiens deserve all the credit performance. Take nothing away from them in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.
- Elliotte Friedman on credit being due to the Canadiens
It’s hard to argue with Friedman here; it seems like too often, the Canadiens are not given the credit that they deserve. Even Jacob Slavin was quoted as saying that he had personally given the games to the Canadiens. If I’m part of the Habs’ coaching staff, I make sure the players are aware of that to fuel their motivation.
The fact that their opponent is unwilling to give them credit might be a good opportunity for the coaching staff to create urgency for the Sainte-Flanelle. Winning a second game in Raleigh would give the Canadiens a stronghold on this series, but going back home tied 1-1 wouldn’t be disastrous either.
Montreal has failed a few times this postseason to capitalize on those opportunities, perhaps because the players subconsciously felt they had accomplished their mission. If this is used in the right way, it may just fire them up enough to counter the urgency the Hurricanes are sure to play with, as they’ll be desperate not to head to Montreal down 0-2 in the series.
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche, the NHL’s best team during the regular season, are in serious danger thanks to a Vegas squad that’s on a run after a late-season coaching change.
“I don’t think people had this on their bingo card,” Golden Knights defenseman Dylan Coghlan said. “We knew we could do it.”
Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev scored in a 2:07 span in the third period and the Golden Knights stunned the Avalanche 3-1 on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final.
Jack Eichel celebrates after scoring a third-period goal during the Golden Knights’ 3-1 Game 2 win over the Avalanche on May 22, 2026 in Denver. AP
Eichel tied it, then set up Barbashev for the go-ahead goal with 8:38 remaining. Barbashev added an empty-netter with 1:03 left. The comeback stunned the capacity crowd and wiped out the top-seeded Avalanche’s 1-0 lead.
By winning twice at Ball Arena, the Golden Knights put the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche in a huge hole. Since 1982, road teams that started 2-0 in the conference finals have a 13-0 series record.
“They understand the situation,” said Vegas coach John Tortorella, who has watched his team go 17-4-1 since he took over on March 29. “I’m not sure where the series goes. I’m not sure where Game 3 goes. But I know I’m not going to have to worry about that, because they get it.”
Carter Hart had another stellar performance, stopping 29 shots. He made 36 saves in a 4-2 win on Wednesday.
Colorado was cruising after Ross Colton opened the scoring in the first period. But things unraveled for the Avalanche in the third. Eichel lined a shot past Scott Wedgewood for his first goal in 11 games to get Vegas on the board.
“I haven’t scored in a million days,” he cracked.
The Golden Knights then took advantage of a miscue — Devon Toews and Brock Nelson struggled to clear the puck along the boards in the Avalanche end — as Eichel sent a pass to Barbashev, who rang in a shot off the post.
The Golden Knights, who are two wins away from a Stanley Cup berth, are 17-4-1 since head coach John Tortorella (above) took over on March 29. NHLI via Getty Images
This was the fourth third-period comeback by the Golden Knights in this postseason, the most in a single playoffs in team history, according to NHL Stats.
“Just resiliency,” Hart said. “That’s the key word for our group here — we’ve just stuck in games and just grinded it out, and just battled. Resiliency, that’s a term that describes our group really well. We’re never out of the fight, and we’re always grinding in games.”
Game 3 is Sunday night in Las Vegas. The Avalanche are hoping to have star defenseman Cale Makar back in the lineup. He has missed the last two games because of an upper-body injury.
“There’s urgency to get him back since he got hurt,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s doing all the work he can possibly do to get back as fast as he can.”
Ivan Barbashev celebrates after scoring a third-period goal during the Golden Knights’ Game 2 win over the Avalanche. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Before the Golden Knights’ rally, the Avalanche were 45-0-0 when leading after two periods in the regular season and playoffs combined.
“It stings for sure right now,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “But tomorrow we’ll wake up, have a meeting, fly to Vegas and regroup. That’s all you can do.”
Vegas struggled on the power play, going 0 of 4. The team also saw defenseman Brayden McNabb limp to the locker room in the first period soon after taking a check along the boards. He returned for the third period. The hard-checking Golden Knights finished with 32 hits and 16 blocked shots.
“We know how hard it is to win,” Eichel said. “A lot of that falls on playing hard defensively.”
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson briefly left late in the second period after delivering a check on Barbashev and then ramming his face into the boards.
Wedgewood had 22 saves.
“We can’t ride the emotional roller-coaster like fans,” Bednar said. “If you lose Game 1, you’re getting swept. If you win Game 1, we’re sweeping them. That’s not reality. You have to deal with the task at hand and what’s to come. We’re not going to try and win four games the next night in Vegas. We’re going to try to win one game.”
DENVER, May 22nd, 2026– During the regular season, the Vegas Golden Knights made their living off of seemingly unsustainable third-period comebacks. After their performance on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, those third-period comebacks don’t feel unsustainable– they feel inevitable.
Through two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avalanche looked like a team of destiny. They dispatched their opponents, the Los Angeles Kings and the Minnesota Wild, in just nine total postseason games. But after Game 2 of the Western Conference Final, that no longer appears to be the case. Now, it’s the Golden Knights emanating those ‘team of destiny’ vibes.
Game 3 of the Western Conference Final is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST on Sunday.
1. Comeback Knights
During the regular season, the Avalanche were 41-0-0 when leading after two periods. In the postseason, they were 4-0.
Now, that record stands at 4-1.
These Golden Knights simply always believe they can come back and win games. In the regular season, there were times when they managed to salvage at least a point from games where their grave was much deeper than a one-goal deficit. If they knew about the Avalanche’s spotless record, it didn’t faze them.
“We’re very comfortable in third periods,” said Noah Hanifin postgame. “All year, we played a lot of comebacks, and I thought we had a good game. We obviously knew they were going to push tonight after the last game, and I thought we handled it well, stayed composed and had a great third period.”
2. Road Warriors
On April 24th, the Golden Knights lost Game 3 in Salt Lake City and fell behind 2-1 in their First Round series against the Utah Mammoth. Since then, they have been near-perfect on the road, winning all but one for a 6-1 record.
Of all those road wins, these last two are arguably the biggest. Going up 2-0 against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche is a big, big deal. They entered the series as heavy underdogs, and are now favored to win it and advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in franchise history. The Golden Knights also have a 4-1 record in franchise history when leading 2-0 in a series.
3. Winning Mindset
Since taking over as head coach of the Golden Knights on March 29th, John Tortorella has preached that having the right mindset matters more than the X’s and O’s of the game. No one expected the Vegas Golden Knights to be up 2-0 in the Western Conference Final against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche– that is, no one except for John Tortorella.
“We’re thinking about getting two,” said Tortorella during his pregame media availability. “We’re all-in, and we’re trying to get another one out of here.”
Up 2-0 and heading back to Las Vegas, the Golden Knights are in an incredible position to take a stranglehold on this series. It’s up to them to have the right mindset and take the necessary steps to get one step closer to the Stanley Cup Final.
“I guarantee you, we won’t [get caught up in being up 2-0],” said Tortorella following the 3-1 win. “I don’t have to say anything to them. They just understand the situation. I’m not sure where the series goes; I’m not sure where Game 3 goes. But I know I’m not gonna have to worry about that, because they get it.”
With the Golden Knights bringing a 2-0 series lead back to Las Vegas, history is accompanying them when opening a playoff series with consecutive wins.
Vegas has won four of the five series it's been in after winning Games 1 and 2, including the Western Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final in 2023.
Vegas goaltender Carter Hart continues to impress as one of the best players on the ice for the Knights. He leads all postseason goalies with 10 wins, and among netminders with at least four appearances, he ranks No. 3 with a .924 save percentage and No. 5 with a 2.25 goals-against average.
"I feel good," Hart said. "I’m just trying to take things one period at a time, one shift at a time, and one puck at a time, and just enjoy it."
The series resumes in Vegas with Games 3 and 4 on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
Three of the series the Knights won after taking a 2-0 lead were during years they made it to the Stanley Cup Final, as they swept the Los Angeles Kings in 2018, when they lost to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Knights also defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in five games after taking a 2-0 series lead during the 2020 playoffs in the bubble.
The only time Vegas lost a playoff series after winning the first two games was in 2024, when they stole Games 1 and 2 in Dallas, but eventually lost in seven games.
"It changes quick," Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood said. "You just bank on a seven-game series, find a way to get one next. It’s really all you can bank on and just prepare for that. But obviously, I think that’s the playoffs. It’s not an easy script, set in stone, predicted or prepared. This is the hand we’ve been dealt, we (have) to find a way to play it to our advantage."
History could also rear its ugly head onto the Avalanche, who finished the regular season with the league's best record, at 55-16-11. Their 121 points earned them the Presidents' Trophy award, but that hasn't equated to success in terms of the Stanley Cup.
"Stings for sure right now, but tomorrow we’ll wake up, have a meeting, fly to Vegas and we’ll regroup," Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "That’s all you can do. Win or lose, you do the same thing. Would we have liked this one tonight? For sure, but move on."
The last team to win the Presidents' Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season was the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012.
All that said, this series is far from over, especially if the Avalanche get back all-world defenseman Cale Makar, who missed the first two games of the series.
"It’s big, obviously, getting two on the road, but it’s far from over, and we know that," Noah Hanfin said. "It’s a long series. They’re a great team over there, and we have to stay even-keeled.
"We have to come home, really take advantage of this home ice, and dig in. This Game 3 is going to be huge."
PHOTO CAPTION
The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
DENVER, May 22nd, 2026— On Friday morning, Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella sat in front of a microphone for his pregame media availability and announced that he wouldn’t be satisfied with a split heading back home.
“I think we need to be better if we’re going to have an opportunity,” he said. “Because we’re thinking about getting two out of here… We’ve had some things that we’ve talked about that we need to adjust, even though we got a win. We’re all-in; we’re trying to get another one out of here.”
Tortorella got his wish. The Golden Knights stunned the Colorado Avalanche with one of their trademarked third period comebacks and held on for a 3-1 victory in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final.
In the first period, the Golden Knights were the better team. They outshot the Avalanche 12-11 and generated 13 scoring chances against Colorado’s six. However, they entered the first intermission trailing by one.
The Avalanche broke the ice at 16:59 in the first. Nazem Kadri worked the puck up to Brent Burns at the point, who ripped off a one-timer towards the net. Ross Colton drifted out from around the goal line, batted down Burns’ shot, and beat Carter Hart glove-side.
At the start of the second period, Martin Nečas took two separate minor penalties, setting the Golden Knights up for a four-minute power play. Jack Eichel took an interference penalty one minute in, and the Avalanche killed off the rest.
It was all Avalanche for the remainder of the period. They held the Golden Knights to just three shots on goal and controlled 92.57% of the expected goal share. They generated 11 scoring chances while holding the Golden Knights to five, and generated five high-danger chances while not allowing any.
The dam finally broke for the Golden Knights in the third period. They stunned the Avalanche with two goals in just over two minutes, and Colorado was never able to recover.
The Golden Knights found the equalizer at 9:15 in the third. Jack Eichel drove deeper into the zone, drifted to the right dot, and went post-and-in to beat Scott Wedgewood far-side.
Jack Eichel with his first goal since Game 3 against the Mammoth, and we are tied in Denver!
The Golden Knights took the lead at 11:22 in the third. Pavel Dorofeyev won a wall battle in the neutral zone and fired the puck in. The Avalanche tried and failed to clear twice; on the third attempt, Pavel Dorofeyev batted the puck to Jack Eichel in the high slot. Eichel found Ivan Barbashev, who stepped into his shot and beat Scott Wedgewood with a wrister from distance.
What a turn. The Golden Knights win yet another board battle, and Jack Eichel sets Ivan Barbashev up for a beauty from the high slot.
From that point on, the Avalanche managed just five shots on goal– and two came after Ivan Barbashev’s empty netter to seal the game.
“[There were] so many shot blocks and desperation plays,” said Jack Eichel following the 3-1 win. “Credit to the group. It really feels like we’re playing for each other.”
The Golden Knights will return to Las Vegas with a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final and a chance to take a stranglehold on the series. Game 3 is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST on Sunday.
“It’s big, obviously, getting two on the road, but it’s far from over, and we know that,” said Noah Hanifin. “It’s a long series. They’re a great team over there, and we have to stay even-keeled. We have to come home, really take advantage of this home ice, and dig in. This Game 3 is going to be huge.”
May 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) reacts following a third-period goal past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41). Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
After a frustrating loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 1, the Colorado Avalanche we back at it two night later hoping to even up this Western Conference Finals series. An even more frustrating loss ensued as the Avalanche gave up their first third period lead and dropped this game 3-1. Vegas now takes a 2-0 series lead for a pair of games upcoming in their building.
The Game
Minus Cale Makar again, this game felt like the first meeting between these two teams. It was a cautious approach by both sides and Vegas earned a healthy amount of the shot share. But before the end of the period Colorado would strike first. Ross Colton fired on a rebound off of a Brent Burns shot to put the Avalanche up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.
The second period went scoreless but each team had their opportunities on the man advantage but couldn’t cash in. A Vegas four-minute power play was interrupted by their own penalty and Colorado had some good looks on the four-on-four. Vegas was held to just four shots in the period but the score was still just 1-0 Colorado.
Midway through the third period it seemed Colorado was going to nap their way to a 1-0 victory since they hadn’t lost a game all year entering the third period with a lead but Vegas found some puck luck and got back into the game. First Jack Eichel unleashed a blistering shot and found Scott Wedgewood off his angle slightly to hit the far side post and in. Then just two minutes later Ivan Barbashev found a loose puck in the slot and gave Vegas a lead for the first time in the contest.
Now scoring was an urgent matter and the Avalanche made a push and then pulled Wedgewood for the extra attacker but Carter Hart shut everything down and Vegas secured a 3-1 victory after Barbashev found the empty net for his second goal of the evening.
Takeaways
Cale Makar can’t be replaced but it’s still no excuse for $64 million worth of forwards who couldn’t find any offense in this contest. Ross Colton, the lone goal scorer for Colorado, played a team-low eight minutes of ice time. The rest had two ineffective power plays and largely didn’t shoot the puck. When Nathan MacKinnon only has one shot on goal, that’s usually a symptom of a loss.
This is the first true patch of adversity the Avalanche have faced all season long but there’s still time for them to respond. It’s an uphill climb to get back into the series, and probably would need a Game 7 victory, but it’s not supposed to be easy getting to the Stanley Cup finals.
Upcoming
The series shifts to Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday, May 24th at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN.
May 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) skates with the puck during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
DENVER — Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev scored in a 2:07 span in the third period and the Vegas Golden Knights stunned the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final.
Eichel tied it, then set up Barbashev for the go-ahead goal with 8:38 remaining. Barbashev added an empty-netter with 1:03 remaining. The comeback stunned the capacity crowd and wiped out the top-seeded Avalanche’s 1-0 lead.
By winning twice at Ball Arena, the Golden Knights put the Avalanche in a huge hole. Since 1982, road teams that started 2-0 in the conference finals have a 13-0 series record.
Carter Hart had another stellar performance, stopping 29 shots. He made 36 saves in a 4-2 win on Wednesday.
Colorado was cruising after Ross Colton opened the scoring in the first period.
Eichel lined a shot past Scott Wedgewood for his first goal in 11 games to get Vegas on the board. The Golden Knights then took advantage of a turnover as Eichel sent a pass to Barbashev, who rang in a shot off the post.
Game 3 is Sunday in Las Vegas. The Avalanche are hoping to have star defenseman Cale Makar back in the lineup. He has missed the last two games because of an upper-body injury.
Before the Golden Knights’ rally, the Avalanche were 45-0-0 when leading after two periods in the regular season and playoffs combined.
Vegas struggled on the power play, going 0 of 4. The team also saw defenseman Brayden McNabb limp to the locker room in the first period soon after taking a check along the boards. He returned for the third period.
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson briefly left late in the second period after delivering a check on Barbashev and then ramming his face into the boards.
