Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche writhes in pain before exiting the game during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to an empty-net goal by Brett Howden (21) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Las Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Brett Howden (21) of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates scoring an empty netter as Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts during the third period of the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche and Shea Theodore (27) of the Vegas Golden Knights track the puck as it squirts loose during the third period of the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Las Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche fan Grayson Ashdown cheers before Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Valeri Nichushkin (13) of the Colorado Avalanche prepares for a face off against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with Devon Toews (7) after scoring on Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nicolas Roy (10) of the Colorado Avalanche defends as Kaedan Korczak (6) of the Vegas Golden Knights passes during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche leaps over Dylan Coghlan (52) of the Vegas Golden Knights after scoring during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates scoring a 2-0 goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nazem Kadri (91) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates with Martin Necas (88) after scoring a 2-0 goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights fans await a call on a potential goal by Pavel Dorofeyev (16) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. The goal was waived off. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Jack Drury (18) of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates scoring a 3-0 goal with Josh Manson (42), Brent Burns (84) and Parker Kelly (17) during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights tends the net after giving up three goals during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche passes from his knees as Noah Hanifin (15) of the Vegas Golden Knights pressures during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts as Nic Dowd (26) of the Vegas Golden Knights drapes him during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Artturi Lehkonen (62) of the Colorado Avalanche reaches for the puck as Jack Eichel (9) and Noah Hanifin (15) of the Vegas Golden Knights work against him during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Josh Manson (42) of the Colorado Avalanche defends Mitch Marner (93) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Nazem Kadri (91), Gabriel Landeskog (92) and Martin Necas (88) of the Colorado Avalanche strategize during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) and Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche talk during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Brock Nelson (11) of the Colorado Avalanche kneels after committing a penally with less than one minute to play agains the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Tomas Hertl (48) of the Vegas Golden Knights defends Jack Drury (18) of the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts after giving up three goals to knot the score at 3-3 during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Brett Kulak (27) of the Colorado Avalanche defends Colton Sissons (10) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche defends Ivan Barbashev (49) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Carter Hart (79) of the Vegas Golden Knights makes a save against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Josh Manson (42) of the Colorado Avalanche defends Tomas Hertl (48) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Cale Makar (8) of the Colorado Avalanche skates as Pavel Dorofeyev (16) of the Vegas Golden Knights defends during the third period of the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Gabriel Landeskog (92) of the Colorado Avalanche kneels behind the goal after taking contact as the Vegas Golden Knights push in transition during the third period of the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Scott Wedgewood (41) of the Colorado Avalanche reacts to giving up a 4-3 goal to Tomas Hertl (48) of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of the Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Brock Nelson (11), Nazem Kadri (91) and Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche prepare to leave the ice as time winds down during the third period of the Vegas Golden Knights’ 5-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Vegas now leads the series 3-0. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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Nathan MacKinnon (29) of the Colorado Avalanche writhes in pain before exiting the game during the second period of Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
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By AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The Colorado Avalanche faced the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 24, 2025. Las Vegas won 4-3.
