The Vegas Golden Knights grabbed a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in Denver. Vegas built a 3-0 lead and held on, earning a B+ grade for their complete effort. Colorado, graded B-, showed rust after a week off and must adjust quickly. The Avalanche are a deep team led by Nathan MacKinnon, but their performance felt below their standard.

Goaltending emerged as a key subplot, with Scott Wedgewood (7-1, .914 SV%) and Carter Hart (.917 SV%, 2.37 GAA) both excelling. Their duel sets up a clear goaltending battle to watch. Vegas forward Pavel Dorofeyev continued his playoff surge with his 10th goal, providing crucial secondary scoring. His emergence is vital if top liners like Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner are quieted.

Colorado’s defense is further stressed by the uncertain status of star Cale Makar, who sat out with an upper-body injury. His potential absence changes the series dynamic significantly. Vegas, meanwhile, must avoid overconfidence after outplaying the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners. The series shifts to Las Vegas for Game 2 with the Avalanche expected to push back aggressively.