Vegas Silences Ball Arena in Game 1 · May 20, 2026
Opening the Western Conference Final without star defenseman Cale Makar, Colorado never found its footing against a suffocating Vegas structure. Dylan Coghlan broke the deadlock in the second period for his first NHL goal since December 2021, Pavel Dorofeyev extended his goal streak to four games on the power play, and Brett Howden added a shorthanded marker to go up 3-0. Valeri Nichushkin's flashy between-the-legs deflection and Gabriel Landeskog's late power-play goal during a 6-on-4 made it close on the scoreboard, but Nic Dowd's empty-netter sealed it. Carter Hart was brilliant with 36 saves as Vegas took a 1-0 series lead.
May 21, 2026
Source: NHL