Golden Knights Secure Game 1 Win Against Avalanche

DENVER — Las Vegas began the Western Conference Finals with a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, thanks in large part to Dylan Coghlan, who netted his first playoff goal. Carter Hart was solid in goal, recording 36 saves.

Colorado, down 3-0 in the third period, rallied to close the gap to 3-2 with a power-play goal from Gabriel Landeskog with just 2:21 remaining. Nick Dowd sealed the win for Las Vegas by scoring into an empty net.

Alongside Coghlan, Pavel Dorofeev and Brett Howden contributed goals for the Golden Knights, who exploited gaps in the Avalanche’s defense, particularly with Kale Makar out due to an upper-body injury.

This marked Coghlan’s first NHL goal since December 2021. The 28-year-old defenseman had mostly played in the American Hockey League this season but has stepped up in the postseason following an injury to teammate Jeremy Lauzon.

“Honestly, there’s not much to fear when you think of Dylan Coghlan,” said Las Vegas coach John Tortorella. “Since he joined us, he’s been among our top defensemen. He’s really unshakeable.”

The Golden Knights effectively neutralized Colorado’s speed, maintaining pressure on goalie Scott Wedgewood and blocking 23 shots throughout the game. Tortorella noted, “We didn’t play a flawless game, but we’ve got work ahead of us.”

Valeri Nichushkin managed to score for Colorado, making it 3-1 at one point. Hart was impressive, making numerous crucial stops, including one off Logan O’Connor’s shot in the first period.

Hart remarked, “We recognize the skill they have, but you can’t let that overwhelm you. I think we did well in limiting their opportunities.”

Mitch Marner, another contributor for Las Vegas, assisted on the empty-net goal, boosting his postseason tally to 19 points. With that, Dorofeev became the leader in playoff goals, scoring his 10th in the process. The Golden Knights’ captain, Mark Stone, remains healthy.

“Our main focus is to stick to our game and not get too caught up in competing against others,” Tortorella explained. “The players seem very at ease.”

Game 2 is set for Friday in Denver. This loss was particularly tough for the Avalanche, marking their first home defeat after a five-game winning streak.

Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon expressed frustration: “It was a tough game, and we felt like we hurt ourselves. We’ve got to tighten up our execution; we can certainly perform better than we did.”

With Makar absent, Colorado experimented with various line combinations. Coghlan’s sneaky goal in the second period broke the tie and showcased some of the confusion that stemmed from Makar’s absence.

“There’s no question his absence is felt,” confirmed Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. “But we’ve got to adapt.”

Coghlan has seen a rebound in his career, having cycled through Las Vegas, Carolina, and Winnipeg before returning last July. The connection he shares with his current teammates plays a pivotal role in his comfort level.

“Honestly, this is the highlight of my career,” Coghlan said, reflecting on his experiences this season. “I feel at home with these guys; they’re world-class players.”

The two teams will clash again in this best-of-seven series. In their previous encounter in 2021, Colorado took the first two games, but Las Vegas came back to win four straight.

Landeskog summarized their sentiment: “We certainly have room for improvement. We know it’s going to be a challenging series.”