Golden Knights’ Playoff Gameday Preview: WCF Game 1 at Avalanche

The Vegas Golden Knights have reached the Western Conference Final for the fifth time in their nine seasons as they chase their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. On Wednesday, the Golden Knights will seek to return to the top of the mountain, but their toughest challenge awaits: the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

Golden Knights’ Playoff Gameday Preview: Game 1 vs. Avalanche (Tied 0-0)

The Golden Knights reached the Western Conference Final by defeating the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks, both in six games. The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1, then beat the Minnesota Wild in five games in Round 2.

This is the second time the two teams will meet in the playoffs. In Round 2 in 2021, the Golden Knights beat the Avalanche in six games. The Avalanche won the first two games before the Golden Knights rallied to win the next four.

During the regular season, the Golden Knights went 1-1-1 against the Avs. However, they trail the all-time series 13-14-4.

Game 1 Projected Lineup (Subject to Change)

• Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Pavel Dorofeyev
• Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner
• Brandon Saad – Tomas Hertl – Colton Sissons
• Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Keegan Kolesar
  
• Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
• Shea Theodore – Dylan Coghlan
• Ben Hutton – Kaedan Korczak/Brayden McNabb
  
• Carter Hart/Adin Hill

McNabb will re-enter the lineup after a one-game suspension for an interference hit on Ducks forward Ryan Poehling in Game 5 of that series. Since Korczak took his place in the lineup, he is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 1. There is also uncertainty as to when captain Mark Stone will return to the lineup. He was injured in Game 3 versus Anaheim and has not played since.

Team Leaders

Marner leads the Golden Knights with 18 points, and Dorofeyev leads with nine goals. Eichel, despite just one goal in the postseason, leads the team with 14 assists, while McNabb leads with 19 penalty minutes. Lastly, Marner has the best plus/minus rating on the team with a plus-11.

In goal, Hart has won all eight games for Vegas. He heads into the new series with a 2.37 goals-against average (GAA) and a .917 save percentage (SV%).

Storyline #1- Marner Rewriting His Narrative

Marner did not have much playoff success with the Toronto Maple Leafs, helping the team win only two series in nine seasons. Many wondered whether he struggled to perform when the lights were brightest.

Marner is a big reason the Golden Knights are in the Western Conference Final. He leads the NHL with 18 playoff points, and he turned up the dial in Games 5 and 6 in both series, scoring three goals and three assists to help the Golden Knights eliminate their opponent. When he played for the Maple Leafs, he scored only one goal after Game 4 in 26 games.

Storyline #2- Centers vs. Centers

This series will feature two of the best centers in the NHL: Eichel and Nathan MacKinnon. We should see them on the ice together a lot in this series. After the two battled for the Gold Medal in the 2026 Winter Olympics this February, it is fitting that they will battle again for the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl.

However, the storyline does not end with those two. Both teams have depth at center. The Golden Knights got Karlsson back in Round 2, while Hertl found his scoring touch after a sluggish start to the playoffs, and Dowd brings physicality and reliability to the fourth line.

For the Avalanche, Jack Drury scored some big goals in Game 2. Nazeem Kadri, a Stanley Cup champion with the Avs back in 2022, is back on the team and has helped their power play. The one question mark among the Colorado centers is Brock Nelson, who has had a slow start to the playoffs. However, he has still been productive in the defensive zone.

Storyline #3- Road Warriors

For the first time in the playoffs, the Golden Knights are starting a series on the road. They have played well on the road, winning four of six games, including two series clinchers. However, the Avalanche are 5-0 at home in the playoffs. Something will have to give in Game 1.

For the Golden Knights, stealing the home-ice advantage right away could go a long way in flipping the momentum of the series. The Avalanche have yet to trail in a series, so taking the early lead might finally put some pressure on them.

How to Watch

The game starts at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time. It can be viewed on ESPN.

Be sure to check back with The Hockey Writers for more coverage as the conference finals get underway!