Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Presidents’ Trophy Avalanche Face Golden Knights in West Finals

5/17/2026

37 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Colorado Avalanche will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals, with the winner advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.
Colorado captured the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025-26 with 121 points and seeks a championship.
Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with a 1.44 points-per-game average.
Scott Wedgewood posts a .914 save percentage.
Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Stone and Pavel Dorofeyev each have three power-play goals.

History

Historical Context

When the franchise moved from Quebec to Denver for the 1995-96 season, the Colorado Avalanche captured the Stanley Cup, sweeping the Florida Panthers 4-0 and delivering Denver its first major professional championship. That rapid success set a benchmark the team cites as it now faces the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2025-26 Western Conference finals, a chance to echo the 1996 triumph.

1 of 2

Story summary

Colorado Avalanche will face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals, with the winner advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.
Colorado captured the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025-26 with 121 points and seeks a championship.
Nathan MacKinnon leads Colorado with a 1.44 points-per-game average.
Scott Wedgewood posts a .914 save percentage.
Nathan MacKinnon, Mark Stone and Pavel Dorofeyev each have three power-play goals.

1 / 2