"Clearly a Leafs Problem": Mitch Marner's Filthy Assist vs. Avalanche in WCF Game 1 Rekindles His Playoff Performance Debate
Dylan Coghlan and Pavel Dorofeyev scored 2:33 apart in the second period as Carter Hart made 36 saves for Vegas.
- The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver, seizing a 1-0 series lead.
- With star defenseman Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury, the Avalanche juggled defensive pairings, creating miscommunications the Golden Knights exploited throughout the game.
- Dylan Coghlan and Pavel Dorofeyev scored 2:33 apart in the second period to break a scoreless tie, while goaltender Carter Hart made 36 saves anchoring Vegas's defense.
- By winning the series opener, the Golden Knights seized home-ice advantage from the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche, with Nic Dowd sealing the result on an empty-net goal.
- Trailing in a series for the first time this postseason, the Avalanche will host Game 2 on Friday night in Denver as they attempt to even the matchup.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Second-period surge leads Golden Knights past Avalanche in Game 1
DENVER — Dylan Coghlan and Pavel Dorofeyev scored 2:33 apart in the second period, Carter Hart made 36 saves, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday.
"Clearly a Leafs problem": Mitch Marner's filthy assist vs. Avalanche in WCF Game 1 rekindles his playoff performance debate
Mitch Marner added yet another assist to his playoff highlight reel with a brilliant assist for Pavel Dorofeyev during the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche on the road in G
Avalanche Have A Bigger Problem Than Just Missing Cale Makar Vs. Golden Knights
For all the attention surrounding the absence of Cale Makar, Game 1 of the Western Conference final ultimately came down to something much simpler.The Vegas Golden Knights imposed their style on the Colorado Avalanche, which never fully adjusted.Vegas came out with a 4-2 win and the early series lead. Styles Make Fights, And Vegas Dictated This OneNot having Makar, who's out day-to-day, in the lineup certainly didn't help Colorado, but it also w…
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