Defenseman Brent Burns (84) of the Colorado Avalanche helps goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche defend the goal against center Tomas Hertl (48) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) of the Vegas Golden Knights defends center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Brock Nelson (11) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to missing a goal opportunity against goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Brent Burns (84) of the Colorado Avalanche slips past the check from right wing Cole Smith (22) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Dylan Coghlan (52) of the Vegas Golden Knights trip each other up during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Morgan Moriz uses her vintage style Nordiques jersey to cover herself from the rain as she and her father Davis Moriz head to Ball Arena before of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Gregoria Buñuelos, aka “Mexican Elvis,” gets a hug from his neighbor, Sue Mark, as he greets fans outside Ball Arena before of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Tyla Samuels, 15, holds up a heart sign during warmups before of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) of the Colorado Avalanche hits the puck past defenseman Shea Theodore (27) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nicolas Roy (10) of the Colorado Avalanche shoots past defenseman Shea Theodore (27) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) of the Colorado Avalanche checks defenseman Ben Hutton (17) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nicolas Roy (10) of the Colorado Avalanche and right wing Mitch Marner (93) of the Vegas Golden Knights compete for position during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Parker Kelly (17) of the Colorado Avalanche and center Nic Dowd (26) of the Vegas Golden Knights get into it during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche cuts back while defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) of the Vegas Golden Knights defends during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Dylan Coghlan (52) of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal on goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Parker Kelly (17) of the Colorado Avalanche checks defenseman Shea Theodore (27) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Head coach Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche talks with an official during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche tries to chop the puck down while /v79 defends his goal during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Devon Toews (7) of the Colorado Avalanche tries to get his stick back on the puck while tangled up with right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche takes the puck down-ice during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Shea Theodore (27) of the Vegas Golden Knights and center Ross Colton (20) of the Colorado Avalanche collide during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to a goal on goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Martin Necas (88) of the Colorado Avalanche takes a shot during the third period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal on goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche blocks a shot while center Jack Eichel (9) of the Vegas Golden Knights bears down on the goal during the second period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Ross Colton (20) and center Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche try to dig the puck out of the pile while goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights defends his goal during the third period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
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Defenseman Brent Burns (84) of the Colorado Avalanche helps goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche defend the goal against center Tomas Hertl (48) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
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Getting your player ready...
The Colorado Avalanche lost Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, Wednesday, 20, 2026.
