The final two Western Conference opponents have been determined, as the Colorado Avalanche will host the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas clinched its spot in the Western Conference Final on Thursday night in a Game Six win over the Anaheim Ducks.

The Golden Knights won the final two games after the series was tied at two-all. Now, they’ll play a red-hot Avalanche team for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. It’s just the second time these two will meet in the postseason, with Vegas winning in the second round in six games in 2021.

How did we get here?

Colorado swept the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and battled with the Minnesota Wild. It took five games, including an incredible overtime, to come out on top. They were the host in both series with home ice advantage, which they’ll continue to carry into the Western Conference Final.


This battle took out some key Avalanche players, with several battling injuries. Josh Manson and Joel Kiviranta returned from injury, while the Avs lost Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski to upper-body injuries. That doesn’t include injury woes being played through by Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and surely some others we don’t know about.

Meanwhile, the Golden Knights finished up both of their series in six games. They beat the new kids on the block, the Utah Mammoth, in the first round. As previously mentioned, they beat Anaheim to get to the final four in the NHL.

Vegas has fought through a ton of turmoil and uncertainty after they fired head coach Bruce Cassidy days before the playoffs began. John Tortarella has since taken the helm, amongst a host of issues in net with Carter Hart.

However, he and the rest of the team have seemingly found their groove and have been one of the best teams in the postseason. They’ll now look to carry the momentum against perhaps the best team in the postseason.

How does this series match up?

Vegas and Colorado have had their respective battles throughout the regular season. The Avs won both games at the T-Mobile Arena while losing the lone match-up of the season at Ball Arena in overtime.

Colorado’s wins were big ones, as they upset Vegas on Nevada Day and Halloween on a game day and celebration they’d been dominant on in their history. They also beat the Golden Knights right after Christmas in a shootout with a late comeback effort.


Vegas’ lone win of the season against the Avalanche in Denver came when the home team was wearing the now-cursed Quebec Nordiques jerseys. That game also required overtime to determine the outcome.

A more in-depth and thorough series preview will come as the series draws closer. However, expect each to play their best hockey at the most important moment of the season, regardless of what the season series and results say.

When does this series start?

Luckily for both teams, they will get some rest and time to heal up and prepare for a gauntlet battle. Game One will take place on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:00 p.m. MT, with games taking place every other day.