Poll: Who Wins NHL Western Conference Final, Avalanche or Golden Knights?

[Editor’s note: Welcome to Athlon Sports’ poll of the day, where we ask readers to weigh in on the biggest topic of the day. Thanks for voting, and be sure to sound off in the comment section.] The Stanley Cup playoffs continue Wednesday night as the NHL’s Western Conference final begins with Game ...

by Craig Ellenport

May 20, 2026

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his fiftieth goal

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

[Editor’s note: Welcome to Athlon Sports’ poll of the day, where we ask readers to weigh in on the biggest topic of the day. Thanks for voting, and be sure to sound off in the comment section.]

The Stanley Cup playoffs continue Wednesday night as the NHL’s Western Conference final begins with Game 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights and the host Colorado Avalanche (8 p.m. ET, ESPN).

The Avalanche have won eight of nine games through two rounds of the playoffs, sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in Round 1 and then eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five games. Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon, who led the NHL in goals scored during the regular season, has seven goals in the playoffs. The Golden Knights needed six games to defeat the Utah Mammoth in Round 1 and then the Anaheim Ducks in the conference semifinals. Vegas right wing Pavel Dorofeyev leads the league with nine playoff goals. So ...

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