Center Brock Nelson (11) of the Colorado Avalanche and center William Karlsson (71) of the Vegas Golden Knights fight for the puck during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) of the Colorado Avalanche tries to box out defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Ross Colton (20) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his goal on goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche takes a shot to the back from right wing Cole Smith (22) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Right wing Cole Smith (22) of the Vegas Golden Knights gets a lick in on center Jack Drury (18) of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Jack Eichel (9) of the Vegas Golden Knights reacts to scoring on goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal on goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Right wing Logan O'Connor (25) of the Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Dylan Coghlan (52) of the Vegas Golden Knights get tangled up during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche slides out on the ice while defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) of the Vegas Golden Knights stays upright during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights blocks a shot while right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) of the Colorado Avalanche looks on during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche blocks a shot by right wing Mitch Marner (93) of the Vegas Golden Knights while defenseman Josh Manson (42) of the Colorado Avalanche helps clear the puck during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche and left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) of the Colorado Avalanche attempt to deflect a shot on goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights’ goal during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche deflects a shot while center Brett Howden (21) of the Vegas Golden Knights attempts to deflect the puck during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche slides out on the ice while defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) of the Vegas Golden Knights stays upright during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche and defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) of the Vegas Golden Knights collide at the boards during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Brent Burns (84) of the Colorado Avalanche blocks a shot with his skate during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Colton Sissons (10) of the Vegas Golden Knights attempts to push defenseman Brent Burns (84) of the Colorado Avalanche off balance during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche kicks the puck away while center Jack Eichel (9) of the Vegas Golden Knights and center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche vy for position during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche and left wing Artturi Lehkonen (62) of the Colorado Avalanche attempt to deflect a shot on goaltender Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights’ goal during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche pushes down-ice during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Nick Blankenburg (37) of the Colorado Avalanche takes off with the puck during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nicolas Roy (10) of the Colorado Avalanche prepares for a face-off with center Jack Eichel (9) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) of the Vegas Golden Knights pokes the puck out from under center Brock Nelson (11) of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche pops the puck over center William Karlsson (71) of the Vegas Golden Knights’ stick during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche looks to pass during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to being called offside during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
DENVER, CO - MAY 22: Goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche kicks the puck away while center Jack Eichel (9) of the Vegas Golden Knights and center Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche vy for position during the second period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
Fans hold a giant banner during the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
1 of 28
Center Brock Nelson (11) of the Colorado Avalanche and center William Karlsson (71) of the Vegas Golden Knights fight for the puck during the first period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post)
ExpandPUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
The Vegas Golden Knights stun the Colorado Avalanche, winning Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Final 3-1 at Ball Arena, Friday, May 22, 2026.






























