2026 Stanley Cup playoffs: Avalanche-Golden Knights conference finals preview
The NHL’s Western Conference finals matchup within the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs is ready. The Central Division champion Colorado Avalanche will tackle the Pacific Division titlelist Vegas Golden Knightswith the winner heading to the Stanley Cup Final.
Both golf equipment have received a Stanley Cup this decade, with the Avs winning it all in 2022 and the Golden Knights hoisting the chalice in 2023.
To assist get you up to the mark earlier than the subsequent spherical begins Wednesday on the networks of ESPN, we’re right here with key intel from ESPN Research, wagering data and extra.
Paths to the conference finals:
Avalanche: Defeated Kings in 4, Wild in 5
Golden Knights: Defeated Mammoth in six, Ducks in six
Schedule:
Game 1: Golden Knights at Avalanche | May 20, 8 pm (ESPN)
Game 2: Golden Knights at Avalanche | May 22, 8 pm (ESPN)
Game 3: Avalanche at Golden Knights | May 24, 3 pm (ESPN)
Game 4: Avalanche at Golden Knights | May 26, TBD (ESPN)
Game 5*: Golden Knights at Avalanche | May 28, 8 pm (ESPN)
Game 6*: Avalanche at Golden Knights | May 30, 8 pm (ABC)
Game 7*: Golden Knights at Avalanche | June 1, 8 pm (ESPN)
*if mandatory
Series odds:
Avalanche -240
Golden Knights +200
Stanley Cup odds:
Avalanche +130
Golden Knights +700
Leading playoff scorers:
Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon (7G, 6A, 13P)
Golden Knights: Mitch Marner (7G, 11A, 18P)
Matchup notes from ESPN Research
Avalanche
This is the eighth time for the reason that franchise moved to Denver that the Avalanche have reached the Western Conference finals, and the primary time since they received the Cup in 2022. The Avs have a 3-4 collection document within the WCF, they usually’ve received the Cup every of these thrice.
Colorado received the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025-26 because the staff with probably the most regular-season factors (121). They are in search of to change into the primary Presidents’ Trophy winner to win the Stanley Cup for the reason that Chicago Blackhawks did it in 2013.
The Avs have a 0-1 document towards the Golden Knights of their historical past, dropping in six video games within the second spherical of the 2021 playoffs.
Seventeen totally different gamers have scored a purpose for Colorado this postseason, which is the seventh time a staff has had that many (or extra) gamers rating a purpose by the primary 9 video games of a single postseason. The Others: 1983 Calgary Flames1985 Blackhawks, 1987 Montreal Canadiens1988 Flames, 1988 Boston Bruins (who had 18) and 1993 Los Angeles Kings.
Leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon has a 1.44 points-per-game common this postseason, which raised his playoff profession points-per-game charge (1.31 heading into the 2026 playoffs).
Scott Wedgewood‘s 2.21 goals-against common is second-best amongst remaining goaltenders, whereas his .914 save share is tied for fourth.
Golden Knights
This is the fifth time that the Golden Knights have superior to the spherical earlier than the Stanley Cup Final, attending to the Western Conference finals in 2018, 2020, 2023 and now 2026, and the Stanley Cup semifinals in 2021 (the realignment year). They have a 2-2 collection document at this playoff stage, and one Cup victory (2023).
The Golden Knights grew to become the fourth membership within the trendy period (since 1944) with 5 “final four” berths in its first 10 seasons, becoming a member of the New York Islanders (7), Edmonton Oilers (5) and Philadelphia Flyers (5).
Expect a lot of offense! Colorado has averaged probably the most targets per recreation (4.11), whereas Vegas is third, at 3.67.
Mitch Marner had his fifth multipoint recreation of the 2026 playoffs in Game 6 towards the Anaheim Duckswhich ties his profession excessive for many such video games in a single postseason (2023, with Toronto).
Pavel Dorofeyev had his second straight multigoal outing in Game 6, and heading into Game 6 of Montreal-Buffalo he’s the main purpose scorer within the 2026 playoffs (9).
With his third short-handed purpose of the 2026 playoffs, Brett Howden has entered into an eight-way tie atop the single-postseason leaderboard in NHL historical past.
