The 2026 Western Conference finals pit the Colorado Avalanche against the Vegas Golden Knights, beginning Wednesday. Both teams enter with recent Stanley Cup pedigree, Colorado victorious in 2022 and Vegas in 2023. The best-of-seven series opens in Denver, with Games 1 and 2 hosted by the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche.

Colorado's path featured sweeps of the Kings and a five-game win over the Wild. Vegas needed six games to eliminate both the Mammoth and the Ducks. The Avs led the NHL with 121 points this season, seeking their second Cup in three years. Their previous conference final appearance resulted in a championship. Vegas, a model of modern expansion success, reaches this round for the fifth time in franchise history.

Leading scorers highlight the offensive talents. Nathan MacKinnon paces the Avalanche with 13 points, while Mitch Marner tops all playoff scorers with 18 for Vegas. The Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev leads the postseason with nine goals. Series odds favor Colorado at -240, though the Golden Knights' experience in this round presents a formidable challenge. The winner advances to the Stanley Cup Final.