Avalanche Face Elimination as Golden Knights Seek Sweep in Western Conference Final

Avalanche Face Elimination as Golden Knights Seek Sweep in Western Conference Final

The Colorado Avalanche, holders of the Presidents' Trophy, aimed to reverse their fortunes in the 2026 Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. After losing the first two games at home, they welcomed back two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar. However, a knee injury to star player Nathan MacKinnon raised concerns about their chances of avoiding a sweep. In Game 3, the Avalanche initially took a 3-2 lead before MacKinnon sustained an injury while blocking a shot. His status remains uncertain as the team prepares for Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday. MacKinnon, the 2026 Maurice Richard Trophy winner with 53 goals, had contributed significantly before his injury, assisting on Gabriel Landeskog's opening goal and helping the team score three times in the first period. The Golden Knights responded with a comeback, starting with Mark Stone's power-play goal just 19 seconds into the second period. They ultimately secured a 5-3 victory, with Brett Howden scoring into an empty net, bringing him level with teammate Pavel Dorofeyev for the postseason lead in goals with 10. Key performances included: Stone, Karlsson, and Hertl each contributing assists. Mitch Marner and Kaedan Korczak adding two assists each for Vegas. Despite MacKinnon’s doubtful status, the Avalanche are favored at -115 on the money line for Game 4, while the Golden Knights sit at -105. The historical odds favor Vegas, as no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Game 4 promises to be a critical moment for the Avalanche as they try to extend their season against a formidable Golden Knights team, which has demonstrated strong performance under new head coach John Tortorella.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-05-26