Story perspectives

Golden Knights Sweep Avalanche 2-1, Advance to Final

5/27/2026

Summary

Vegas Sweeps

Vegas Golden Knights beat Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on May 26, 2026, sweeping the Western Final.
Mark Stone and Cole Smith scored for Vegas while Gabriel Landeskog scored for Colorado.
Carter Hart stopped 20 of 21 shots for a .952 save percentage.
Vegas holds +120 odds, second to the Hurricanes at +100, and will meet the Eastern champion.

Summary

Vegas Captures

Avalanche entered series missing Norris winner Cale Makar and Hart finalist Nathan MacKinnon due to injuries.
Vegas fired Bruce Cassidy eight games early, then went 7-0-1 under John Tortorella to capture the Pacific Division.
The Knights advanced with only 39 wins, the fewest finalist total since the 2001-02 Hurricanes (35).
Both teams dealt with injuries, with the Knights opening without captain Mark Stone and the Avalanche rotating goalies after losing starters.

History

Historical Context

The New York Rangers captured the 1994 Stanley Cup, ending a 54-year championship drought with a 4-3 series win over the Vancouver Canucks. Captain Mark Messier scored the decisive goal in Game 7, while goaltender Mike Richter posted a .925 save percentage across the series. Similarly, the 2026 Western Final saw the Vegas Golden Knights, with only 39 regular-season wins, defeat an injury-depleted Colorado Avalanche, echoing the Rangers’ underdog triumph. These repeat upsets reinforce the NHL’s unpredictable playoff dynamics, prompting teams to prioritize depth and resilience over regular-season dominance.

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Vegas Sweeps

Vegas Golden Knights beat Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on May 26, 2026, sweeping the Western Final.
Mark Stone and Cole Smith scored for Vegas while Gabriel Landeskog scored for Colorado.
Carter Hart stopped 20 of 21 shots for a .952 save percentage.
Vegas holds +120 odds, second to the Hurricanes at +100, and will meet the Eastern champion.

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