😱 2-4 !!! “COLORADO LOST THE VICTORY IN A WAY NO ONE COULD BELIEVE!” — THE HIGH PRICE FOR THE MYSTERIOUS COLLAPSE IN THE FINALS. Everything was completely under Colorado Avalanche’s control from the very first minutes of the Western Conference Finals… until things took an unexpected turn in the second half. After a promising start, Avalanche allegedly lost focus in the decisive phase, allowing the offense to finish and create a bitter comeback for Colorado fans. Read the full article in the comments below 👇

Item 1 of 90 May 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) and left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) before game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-

[1/90]May 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) and left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) before game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab.

May 21 – DENVER — Dylan Coghlan and Pavel Dorofeyev scored 2:33 apart in the second period, Carter Hart made 36 saves, and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Colorado ​Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on ‌Wednesday.

Brett Howton also had a goal and Nic Dowd scored into an empty net for Vegas, which grabbed home-ice advantage from the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will ​be played Friday night in Denver.

Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog scored ​while Scott Wedgewood turned away 24 shots for Colorado, which trails ⁠in a series for the first time in this postseason.

Vegas captain Mark Stone (lower-body ​injury) and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (upper body) were scratched.

Both teams had chances in a ​scoreless first period. Keegan Kolesar nearly gave the Golden Knights the lead on a partial breakaway early on. Logan O’Connor hit the post for the Avalanche, and Hart made a save ​on Nazem Kadri in the waning seconds of the period.

Vegas finally broke through ​at 12:29 of the second period. Brandon Saad sent a pass to Coghlan in the ‌slot, and ⁠Coghlan’s wrister beat Wedgewood through the pads for his first goal of the postseason.

Colorado’s Ross Colton took a roughing penalty less than two minutes later, and the Golden Knights took advantage. Mitch Marner stretched out with the puck and whipped ​a pass to Dorofeyev ​coming down the ⁠right side. Dorofeyev sent a one-timer to the short side past at 15:02, his 10th goal of the playoffs.

Vegas made ​it 3-0 early in the third after killing off a ​Colorado power ⁠play. Howden knocked down the rebound of Ben Hutton’s shot with his glove and tapped the puck by Wedgewood at 1:34.

The Avalanche answered at 5:53 when Nichushkin redirected ⁠Colton’s ​pass beyond Hart.

Wedgewood came off when Colorado went ​on the power play at 16:52, and Landeskog cut the deficit to one at 17:39.

The Avalanche pulled ​Wedgwood again, but Dowd sealed it into an empty net at 19:15.

As frustration increased, discipline also began slipping away. Poor puck management created unnecessary turnovers, while failed attempts to regain momentum only exposed larger gaps across the defensive structure. The Avalanche no longer resembled the composed team that dominated the opening period.

By the time the opposition scored again to take the lead, disbelief had completely taken over the arena. Fans stared at the scoreboard in shock as Colorado found itself trailing despite controlling the earlier stages of the contest so comfortably.

Several veteran players attempted to rally the bench emotionally, but the rhythm never truly returned. Every offensive push seemed rushed and desperate rather than controlled. Instead of dictating play, Colorado began reacting nervously to every attack coming in the opposite direction.

The final period only deepened the nightmare. Colorado pushed aggressively to equalize, but desperation created even more defensive exposure. Odd-man rushes became increasingly dangerous, and the opposition capitalized clinically on every mistake left unprotected by the Avalanche defense.

When the fourth goal eventually crossed the line, the silence inside the building became impossible to ignore. A game that once looked safely under Colorado’s control had transformed into one of the most painful collapses supporters could remember in recent postseason history.

After the final horn sounded, players skated slowly toward the locker room with visible frustration written across their faces. Nobody seemed capable of fully explaining how such a dramatic momentum shift had unfolded so quickly after such a promising beginning.

Coaches attempted to remain composed during postgame interviews, but disappointment was impossible to hide. Questions immediately emerged regarding concentration, tactical adjustments, and the team’s inability to respond emotionally once pressure intensified during the second period.

Analysts across the hockey world began debating the deeper causes behind the collapse. Some pointed toward defensive confusion, while others criticized the sudden lack of aggression after Colorado established its early advantage. Many simply described the result as psychologically devastating.

For Avalanche supporters, the defeat hurts even more because victory had appeared so close. The opening period showcased everything fans love about this team — speed, intensity, creativity, and confidence. Yet those same strengths disappeared when the game entered its most critical moments.

The result now places enormous pressure on Colorado moving forward in the series. Momentum has shifted dramatically, and psychological recovery may become just as important as tactical preparation before the next matchup begins.

Inside the locker room, leaders are expected to demand immediate accountability. Playoff hockey often rewards emotional resilience as much as talent, and the Avalanche now face serious questions regarding their ability to recover from devastating setbacks under extreme pressure.

Despite the painful defeat, many supporters still believe the team possesses enough quality to fight back. The roster remains filled with elite talent, experienced veterans, and players capable of changing a series instantly when confidence returns.

However, one reality cannot be ignored after this shocking 2-4 collapse: opportunities in the playoffs disappear quickly. Colorado had the game completely under control, only to lose everything through a mysterious and unforgettable second-period breakdown that may haunt the team for a very long time.