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00:00:00Гайко, brought to you by Great Climps, the official hair salon of the NHL.
00:00:11The second period, no score in Game 1 of this Western Conference Final.
00:00:15Time for Difference Maker, brought to us by Noble.
00:00:19When you talk about Colorado and you talk about McCarran, McKinnon, they go hand-in-hand.
00:00:24Always a focus on him, defending him off the rush.
00:00:28The Vegas Golden Knights have done a good job where they've layered the guys defending him,
00:00:33so he hasn't had much room, even on the power play.
00:00:35There's multiple people in front of McKinnon at all times, and if you can do that, he can't get that
00:00:41speed going.
00:00:42So he takes one or two strides, he gets around one guy, there's another one there.
00:00:47And it's critical to get the puck out of his hands.
00:00:50Now, of course, if he gets it out of his hands and it goes to Natchez, that's what continually makes
00:00:55him dangerous.
00:00:56But Vegas has done a really, really good job in the first half of this Game 1, preventing any real
00:01:02rush danger.
00:01:16The crowd drones as Landisgog is thrown out of the faceoff with Eichel, and McKinnon will step in.
00:01:25Eichel started to drop back, but they got picked off by Landisgog.
00:01:30Hart hangs on.
00:01:33There'll be a faceoff with 9.32 to go in the second period.
00:01:38Well, chances are, if you're watching, you love hockey, you don't need to get out of your seat for a
00:01:42while.
00:01:42There'll be hockey action for each of eight days in a row, starting tonight.
00:01:47At the very least, as each of these series will be played every other day.
00:01:51So we're next with you on Friday for Game 2 from here in Denver.
00:01:54And the East begins tomorrow in Carolina.
00:01:58Montreal in the Hurricanes.
00:02:00McKinnon tried to wheel it down the slot.
00:02:02Instead, skated off by Dorofiev.
00:02:04He sends for Barbashev.
00:02:06He waits and sends it to the net front.
00:02:08And it's skated away.
00:02:10Great patience by Barbashev to wait for the sliding defenseman to go by.
00:02:14But they did not get a testing shot on Wedgwood.
00:02:20And now a whistle.
00:02:24And I'm not certain why.
00:02:26It was a miscommunication between the linesmen.
00:02:28There was an icing called.
00:02:30And so they finally got it sorted.
00:02:32Barbashev gets the pass from Dorofiev.
00:02:34And this is one of those rush chances we talk about Colorado getting.
00:02:39You see Colorado chasing the play back.
00:02:42That's McKinnon.
00:02:43You're chasing back to your zone.
00:02:45So you're not really in any defensive posture.
00:02:48Two rink-wide passes.
00:02:50And Eichel gets a deflection on Scott Wedgwood.
00:02:53That's a really quick attack by the Vegas Golden Knights.
00:02:58Five goals in the last three for Dorofiev.
00:03:01And nine in the playoffs to lead all scores.
00:03:04Hasn't scored in games one to three in either of the first two series.
00:03:09Maybe they should just tell him, hey, this is game four.
00:03:11Yeah, it doesn't have to be complicated.
00:03:13You can shoot it in now, too, if you want.
00:03:16The Knights have a lot of leaders.
00:03:18Marner, who's digging for the puck, leads the playoffs in points.
00:03:22Eichel leads in assists with 14.
00:03:26Howden leads with three shorthanded goals.
00:03:31Vegas has four shorthanded goals in the playoffs.
00:03:34Relatively penalty-free both ways tonight.
00:03:41Kadri into the zone.
00:03:44Eyed by Hannafin.
00:03:46Kulak, the defenseman in deep.
00:03:49Gives it to Burns.
00:03:50That's right on net.
00:03:52You said, Ray.
00:03:54It's unbelievable.
00:03:54Sends it to the net.
00:03:55And it's on target every time.
00:03:58Hannafin rink wide for Howden.
00:04:05Down eight minutes to go on the period.
00:04:08Kulak re-enters.
00:04:10Colton dropped it off the Choskin.
00:04:13That wound up on the far wall.
00:04:15And then Kadri looks a little tired.
00:04:17Couldn't really stop it.
00:04:19Went diving after it to play it back.
00:04:21Here they come again with Colton.
00:04:23Rink wide it goes.
00:04:24Nice pass.
00:04:25Nelson.
00:04:26And Carter Hart held the short side.
00:04:29Made the save on Brock Nelson.
00:04:35Here's the trailer.
00:04:36Coghlan.
00:04:37And he scores the unlikeliest of goal scores for Vegas.
00:04:45Dylan Coghlan makes it 1-0.
00:04:49Dylan Coghlan is quite a story.
00:04:51The last couple of years he did not play very much.
00:04:54As he was in Carolina and then Winnipeg.
00:04:57They signed him to play in the American League.
00:04:59They're like, you need to play some games.
00:05:01This is the second time that Coghlan has been through Vegas.
00:05:05Vegas, his first time through in his, he scored his first, his second, and his third goal all in the
00:05:13same game in the NHL.
00:05:14He's got six in the NHL.
00:05:16Now he's got one in the playoffs.
00:05:181-0 Vegas.
00:05:20Dylan Coghlan with the goal.
00:05:24His first career playoff goal in his fifth game.
00:05:28They've come consecutively.
00:05:29Played in the last four games against Anaheim.
00:05:32And as you said, Ray, so little time in the NHL, so much time in the minors.
00:05:37He said when he was out to warm up for his first playoff game, he saw his mother in the
00:05:41stands.
00:05:41And she was crying, and it was a very emotional experience for him.
00:05:47When they brought him back, the Vegas manager told him, basically, we'll bring you back to be a number one
00:05:54defenseman in Henderson.
00:05:55Maybe you'll get a chance in Vegas, but that's really what we anticipate your role being.
00:06:00And he just wanted to play, so this worked out just fine for him.
00:06:03And with the injury to Jeremy Lazon, he was able to get an opportunity to jump into the lineup.
00:06:12Watch him come late here.
00:06:14It's Sissons and Saad that make the three-on-two work.
00:06:19Saad goes back to Wedgwood, or back to Coghlan.
00:06:24It goes through the legs of Wedgwood.
00:06:26Coghlan can really shoot the puck.
00:06:28And so, while he joins the rush, he gets a chance.
00:06:31That's something that he does very well.
00:06:33Wedgwood probably wants it back, but a depth goal, right, as Sissons and Saad combine to set up Dylan Coghlan.
00:06:42Well, you mentioned, Ray, six career regular season goals for Coghlan.
00:06:48That one winds up off the back wall.
00:06:50That's in 115 NHL games in the regular season.
00:06:56His last was in 2021, December 17th.
00:07:01That's set up toward the net front from up high.
00:07:07Good ozone time now for Colorado trying to answer.
00:07:10Land, the scog centering pass got intercepted and played out to Barbashev, who took a check from Molenski.
00:07:20Coghlan the goal, his first of the playoffs from Saad and Sissons at 12-29.
00:07:26And hard, a glove save off the try by Kulak.
00:07:29Don't know what the odds were on DraftKings on that one, but...
00:07:35I hope somebody's got it.
00:07:37Dylan Coghlan, Ray, played in three regular season games in the NHL this year, 62 in the AHL.
00:07:44Six NHL games last year with Winnipeg, most of the year in the AHL.
00:07:50The year before that, two games in the NHL with Carolina.
00:07:56Excuse me, one.
00:07:57That was two years ago.
00:07:58And 17 NHL games the year before that.
00:08:02And here he is.
00:08:03The first goal of the Western Conference final.
00:08:06That one sent wide by Burns.
00:08:12Kadri Kulak had to go off his stick.
00:08:15Burns!
00:08:15Another one!
00:08:16Right on net.
00:08:18Karendon to the corner.
00:08:22There's an injured Vegas Golden Knight.
00:08:26Rasmus Anderson on his knees, and I believe Wes McCauley has a penalty as well.
00:08:30Yeah.
00:08:31It was Colton and Anderson.
00:08:34Colton and Anderson tied up in front of the net.
00:08:40Colton shoves his hand up into his face.
00:08:43The Vegas power play with a 1-0 lead.
00:08:47Dylan Coghlan with his first playoff goal.
00:08:50Off the pass from Brandon Saad.
00:08:53Through the wickets of Scott Wedgwood.
00:08:55It's 1-0 Vegas.
00:08:58ABC is home to the Stanley Cup final.
00:09:09Oh, I don't think Russ Colton's very happy here.
00:09:12He thinks Rasmus Anderson took a bit of a dive here as they get tied up in front of the
00:09:17net.
00:09:18Colton and Anderson are fighting for position.
00:09:21And eventually you're going to see the right hand of Colton go up.
00:09:25And get Anderson in the face.
00:09:29I mean, he gets his hands up there.
00:09:32Anderson's going to make sure that everybody in the arena knows that he got punched in the nose.
00:09:36And as a result, it's a Vegas power play.
00:09:40One shot attempt on their first power play of the series.
00:09:45And so, again, I talked earlier in game one about how you see what the other team does.
00:09:50Even though you watch it on film, now you get a chance to see it.
00:09:53And then you adjust.
00:09:54So, this is the second time around for Vegas.
00:09:57They know Colorado's going to be aggressive penalty killing.
00:10:00See if the power play looks any different.
00:10:05Dorothea have had 20 power play goals in the regular season to lead their Golden Knights.
00:10:13That was second in the league, Wyatt Johnson to Dallas at 27.
00:10:16Funny, Wyatt Johnson does it with deflections and rebounds.
00:10:19And Dorothea does it with an absolute rocket.
00:10:26Puck went out of the rink and they'll start over again.
00:10:33Of course, the faceoff means so much here.
00:10:36And Nelson will take the draw for Colorado.
00:10:40And because it's on this side of the ice, Tomas Hurdle will take it for Vegas.
00:10:46And Hurdle has to make sure he doesn't lose it clean.
00:10:50He did, and it's going to go down the ice.
00:10:57Down to five and a half to go, second period.
00:11:00Dylan Coughlin, the goal scorer.
00:11:04All the firepower on both teams.
00:11:07And it's Coughlin who's on the score sheet.
00:11:14Eichel wanted a penalty as Manson had an arm on him.
00:11:18And the abs cleared the puck again.
00:11:23Heichel looking for options.
00:11:26Played it to Hurdle.
00:11:27Now Marner trying to cut to the middle.
00:11:29Badger by O'Connor.
00:11:30They score!
00:11:32Dorothea, another power play goal.
00:11:35And it's 2-0 Vegas.
00:11:39Oh, Dorothea is the recipient of a Marner beauty.
00:11:44The power play marker makes it 2-0.
00:11:48And for the first time in this playoff,
00:11:51Pavel Dorothea has scored in the first three games of a series.
00:11:54Man, this kid can shoot the puck.
00:11:57Entry into the zone.
00:11:58Marner has to dance through the coverage.
00:12:01And he knows where Dorothea is the whole time.
00:12:04Watch, he's stuck here.
00:12:06But he knows where Dorothea is coming in right behind him.
00:12:10There's not many players in the league that are going to make that play.
00:12:13Most will hold the puck.
00:12:15Marner sees the next play.
00:12:17Dorothea shot beats Wedgwood over the elbow.
00:12:20And in quick succession.
00:12:22Goal by Coughlin.
00:12:23Power play goal by Dorothea.
00:12:25And Vegas has a 2-0 lead.
00:12:32Dorothea had 37 goals.
00:12:34In the regular season, 20 of them on the power play.
00:12:38Has 10 now in the playoffs.
00:12:40Four of them a man up.
00:12:43Tied with Uribe Sapkowski of Montreal for the most power play goals in these playoffs.
00:12:50He's really emerged right the last couple of years.
00:12:5237 goals this year.
00:12:53Career high after 32, 35 last year.
00:12:57Played 82 games both seasons.
00:12:58When Jonathan Marcheseau left as a free agent, Vegas was pretty sure that Dorothea was going to be able to
00:13:06fill that role.
00:13:07And the numbers you just gave Shoji had, he can do it.
00:13:10That kid's going to make a lot of money this summer.
00:13:12Because he's a restricted free agent.
00:13:15And he's not getting near enough dough for what he does.
00:13:21Assists for Marner and another for Hurdle.
00:13:25That's 19 points now adding to his playoff leading total for Mitch Marner.
00:13:31It is 13th game.
00:13:33And Hurdle has a four-game point streak himself.
00:13:382-0 and the crowd is entirely out of it.
00:13:42They really are.
00:13:43Colorado's got to find some energy here.
00:13:49McNabb trying to bank it out.
00:13:51And it pinballs and it's kept in.
00:13:55Dropped back by Kadri to Burns.
00:13:57Blocked up high.
00:13:58Carlson went chasing after it.
00:13:59But it snapped back in by Gulak.
00:14:01With under four minutes to go in the second period.
00:14:07That penalty will not go over well with Colorado as they didn't like the call on Colton.
00:14:16And then Vegas made them pay.
00:14:18Colton on the ice now.
00:14:20Gave it to Nachuskin who took a bump from McNabb.
00:14:24Around for Howden and played off.
00:14:26Now for Mitch Marner.
00:14:28Two on two.
00:14:29Into the zone.
00:14:31Both teams changing and it's an easy handle for Wedgwood.
00:14:37Dylan Coghlan scored the first goal.
00:14:39Ray, we talked about how remarkable that is.
00:14:42And he hadn't scored a goal since 2021 in the NHL.
00:14:46He had six goals total in his career in the regular season.
00:14:51Three of them were in one game.
00:14:53Back in March 10, 2021 at age 23 undrafted.
00:14:57He became the first and he's still the only defenseman in Golden Knights history to have a hat trick against
00:15:04the Minnesota Wild.
00:15:08And then becomes a long road until you get your next great opportunity.
00:15:13And this is a good opportunity for him.
00:15:15Not just the goal, but to play in these playoffs and to play well.
00:15:23Turnaround try by Hurdle.
00:15:26Blocked by Nelson.
00:15:28Down to 3-10 in the period.
00:15:31Good pressure by this Vegas line.
00:15:34Now, Lekin and with help coming.
00:15:37Lekin and has it back.
00:15:38Sliding play made by Coghlan.
00:15:44Wah centers it.
00:15:47That was blocked away by Coghlan.
00:15:51Having the night of his life.
00:15:54In the biggest game of his career.
00:15:59LaShawn played it ahead for Kelly.
00:16:02Wrapped up by Hannafin.
00:16:04And moved along by Nelson.
00:16:09Nolenski in for the point.
00:16:11Has some room.
00:16:11Drops it back.
00:16:12Taves plays it off.
00:16:14Wrister turned aside by Hart.
00:16:16It went up in the air near the crossbar.
00:16:20Hutton tried to bat it out and he couldn't.
00:16:23After a good chance for Drury.
00:16:26O'Connor played it off.
00:16:28They move it quickly.
00:16:28Molenski a drive.
00:16:30That's blocked by Hannafin.
00:16:32Intercepted by Molenski.
00:16:33O'Connor from the dot.
00:16:35Glove saved by Carter Hart.
00:16:37A dandy.
00:16:40And again, it's the fourth line for Colorado.
00:16:44With a good shift.
00:16:47Colorado trying to get back in this game.
00:16:49They're going to get a three-on-one here.
00:16:50Quick little play from Wraugh.
00:16:52And as Hurdle drops back into coverage.
00:16:55A little give and go.
00:16:56And they want to go across to Ashawn.
00:16:58That's Coughlin who makes a defensive play.
00:17:01This is Colorado's most dangerous forward tonight.
00:17:03Good for Logan O'Connor.
00:17:04Bad for the Avalanches.
00:17:06Their fourth line has been as dangerous at five-on-five as anybody else.
00:17:10Hart.
00:17:11Another sharp save with the glove.
00:17:14To keep this game at 2-0.
00:17:20Colorado's really got to find a way to kick the five-on-five pressure up here.
00:17:27Here's Marner.
00:17:28Carrying it through the neutral zone.
00:17:30Dumped it in.
00:17:31Taves sent it to the wall.
00:17:35And then a sturdy check as Molenski took a hit from Howden.
00:17:42Here's Taves in the zone.
00:17:43And they're offside.
00:17:46Jared Bednar has seen 40 minutes go by.
00:17:49And while they have a shot advantage, it's not been a very smooth game for his team.
00:17:54I'm starting to wonder.
00:17:55Because Bednar will make in-game switches to his lines.
00:17:59Well, actually, he's going to make one right now.
00:18:00Here comes Nazem Kadri to jump over the boards to take Landisgaard.
00:18:06He's got a gut feel to what he likes.
00:18:09Like, some coaches don't like to change lines.
00:18:10Bednar will.
00:18:11So now you've got Kadri, McKinnon, and Natchez.
00:18:13And I think this is just going to be the start.
00:18:25And it goes without saying, they missed Cale McCartney.
00:18:29I thought in the open we talked a little bit about it.
00:18:31I just thought this is an amazing opportunity for Vegas.
00:18:35You've got to win one on the road.
00:18:37Now you've got them without their best defenseman.
00:18:39Now it's Carlson.
00:18:40He got a shot off and a nice right pad save made by Wedgwood.
00:18:44The quick counter, McKinnon.
00:18:46McKinnon missed the short side.
00:18:49Kulak sends it back for McKinnon.
00:18:51Top line on for Colorado.
00:18:53Trying to get on the board here late in the second period.
00:18:56Down 2-0.
00:18:58In their last game, Game 5 against Minnesota in the second round, they rallied from 3-0 down.
00:19:03They're in 4-3.
00:19:07Up it comes for Kadri.
00:19:10Yeah, it gets more and more difficult as the series go on here.
00:19:14Cross ice, one-timer for Nelson.
00:19:17Oh, it's a good play.
00:19:19Nelson got plenty on that.
00:19:24Vegas defends well.
00:19:25We've seen that.
00:19:26They suppress shots really well.
00:19:29But when Colorado's gotten to the net, Hart's been there tonight.
00:19:33The two-skin got taken down.
00:19:34A penalty coming here against the Golden Knights for a trip.
00:19:40With 35 seconds left in the second period, Nick Dowd is heading to the penalty box.
00:19:5317 Vegas minor trip.
00:19:55And Wes McCauley says, nope, 26, it's not you.
00:19:58It's Ben Hutton.
00:20:00Really good effort for Nachuskin.
00:20:02He drives into the middle of the ice.
00:20:04And you can see it's the Hutton stick, I guess, that pulls up Nachuskin.
00:20:08Late in the first period, Colorado had a power play that carried over to the second period.
00:20:12Same thing happening here late in the second.
00:20:15They got the 35 seconds left.
00:20:17Can you get a crucial power play goal late in this period?
00:20:22Or does this go through to the next period?
00:20:25The Avs are signaling to Wedgwood.
00:20:28Play the puck.
00:20:29If the puck gets shot down the ice, they were just putting their hand like in a cycle.
00:20:34They're like, move it up, move it up.
00:20:35We don't have much time.
00:20:41It comes back to Taves.
00:20:42He walks in.
00:20:43One timer.
00:20:45High and wide from Nachus.
00:20:48Ray, how much is the difference is it for this power play when you have Taves up top,
00:20:52a left-hand shot, when it's usually McCar who's a righty?
00:20:54Well, that and also Taves doesn't shoot it anywhere near as well as McCar.
00:20:59So the two real changes on the structure and the actual execution possible without McCar there.
00:21:08The bouncing puck came right to the net front.
00:21:11McKinnon centered.
00:21:12And that's the end of the period.
00:21:15And Hart lost the stick.
00:21:17It looks like he maybe has just doubled over to put the glove back on for a minute.
00:21:22It looked like he was hurting.
00:21:24Dylan Coghlan scores the first.
00:21:27And then Dorofeev on the power play.
00:21:30They're perfect in the playoffs when leading after two.
00:21:342-0 Vegas.
00:21:35Here's Steve.
00:21:36Wow, Sean.
00:21:37Thank you.
00:21:38Back here in the studio with P.K.
00:21:40Subban, Mark Messier, and Kevin Weeks.
00:21:44And if you had Dylan Coghlan in the pool,
00:21:47Sean, if you had him on DraftK,
00:21:49he might be plus 10 million billion to score a goal in that game.
00:21:53And he, of course, is the guy.
00:21:54What's your takeaway there, bud?
00:21:55Well, a lot of things to like on both sides.
00:21:57You know, both Colorado and Vegas.
00:21:59But for me, the depth players, like I said once again for Vegas,
00:22:02get them on the board.
00:22:03Dylan Coghlan, who's a depth defenseman for Vegas,
00:22:06finding a way to get up the ice.
00:22:08First a solid defensive play, then getting up the ice.
00:22:10But it's the work by the third line,
00:22:12Colton Sissons and company, who get the job done on that goal.
00:22:15A little bit of puck watching on both goals from Colorado.
00:22:18When you watch the replays there,
00:22:19you can see guys watching the play
00:22:21instead of getting in position
00:22:22before they start thinking about what they're going to do with it after.
00:22:26You've got to get back.
00:22:27You've got to hustle.
00:22:27You can't get beat up the ice by defensemen,
00:22:30fourth and fifth wingers.
00:22:31And they did on one goal.
00:22:33And sure enough, it was in the back of the net because of it.
00:22:34Colorado looks sleepy.
00:22:35A little lack of energy there on home ice here?
00:22:38A little bit to me.
00:22:39They don't have that same speed.
00:22:40But we have to credit Vegas
00:22:42because that's what Vegas had to neutralize in this one.
00:22:43Well, if, if, if, if, if, um, uh, what's her, uh, Logan, uh, O'Connor.
00:22:49If Logan O'Connor is their best threat, Vegas will take that in a heartbeat.
00:22:53Like, come on.
00:22:54And he has been, he's been great.
00:22:56He's been great.
00:22:57All right.
00:22:58Coming up.
00:22:59Hey, the P-dub is crowned a champion.
00:23:02Huge.
00:23:02Get you some of that.
00:23:04And break down that second period.
00:23:06Straight ahead.
00:23:06Now the Discover second intermission report.
00:23:37You're watching the Stanley Cup playoffs on ESPN.
00:23:40Presented by Geico from Ball Arena, Denver.
00:23:43Game one of the Western Conference final.
00:23:46Vegas takes the ice for the third period.
00:23:48Leading two to nothing.
00:23:50Despite the fact that Colorado has a decided edge in shot attempts and ozone time.
00:23:56Colorado playing without Cale McCart tonight.
00:23:59And Ray, a minute 25 on the Avalanche power play to begin the period.
00:24:04It feels like a very big man up situation for them.
00:24:07It really does.
00:24:08Because Vegas defends really well.
00:24:10They're big.
00:24:10They clean the front of the net up pretty, pretty nicely.
00:24:13And so you've got a chance here to match the power play goal that Vegas scored in the second period.
00:24:18The Dorofae of goal that made it 2-0.
00:24:20So you're looking for something quick.
00:24:24Something aggressive.
00:24:26Straightforward.
00:24:26Power plays.
00:24:27It starts of periods.
00:24:28It's generally or not very smooth.
00:24:31Nobody's warmed up.
00:24:32The penalty killers just have to get it and shoot it down the ice.
00:24:35It's a big moment here.
00:24:36Here's Landis Gogg into the zone.
00:24:39Bouncing puck.
00:24:39Got through Marty Natchez.
00:24:41Scaled around by Gabe Landis Gogg.
00:24:44Devon Taves now across to Nathan McKinnon.
00:24:47Had to jam the brakes on with Theodore in the way.
00:24:50Theodore's blocked six shots tonight.
00:24:5341 now in the playoffs.
00:24:55Up top it goes to Taves.
00:24:57Taves Natchez out in front.
00:25:00Pinball's up into the air.
00:25:02A stick left.
00:25:03It is possessed by Colorado.
00:25:06Natchez taves a drive.
00:25:08Missed the net.
00:25:09Good pressure by Colorado.
00:25:12Still with 40 on the penalty against Vegas.
00:25:19It squirts free and it's cleared by Carlson.
00:25:25And now Colorado trying to come from 2-0 down against a very hot goalie in Carter Hart.
00:25:30Who has stopped all 25 he's faced tonight.
00:25:38Nelson with the power play down to 12 seconds.
00:25:44Hannafin and Anderson the defenseman now for Vegas.
00:25:48Molenski to Natchez.
00:25:50Spinning around running out of time on the man up.
00:25:54Vegas back at full strike.
00:25:55Just out of the box comes Hutton.
00:25:58A defenseman.
00:25:59Hutton shoots.
00:26:00Blocker down.
00:26:01And they score on the rebound.
00:26:08Howden makes it 3-0.
00:26:13Brett Howden had 12 goals in the regular season.
00:26:15He's now got 9 in these playoffs.
00:26:20The shot gets blocked and in an unbelievably great bounce.
00:26:26Howden blocks it and it goes right to Hutton.
00:26:29That puck could go anywhere.
00:26:30It goes right to Hutton.
00:26:32His shot is stopped by Wedgwood.
00:26:35But the reaction by Howden off the rebound makes this goal possible.
00:26:39He swats it down.
00:26:40Now he's still going to get a stick on it or it's not going to count.
00:26:45Howden knocks it into the crease.
00:26:47Stays right on top of it.
00:26:50And that makes it a legal goal.
00:26:52Brett Howden's 9th.
00:26:54Makes it 3-0.
00:26:55What a postseason he has had.
00:27:00He had 9 in his entire playoff career.
00:27:05Entering this postseason.
00:27:07He has 9 in this postseason.
00:27:10Coaches will tell you all the time.
00:27:12Good defense leads to offense.
00:27:14For Howden it couldn't be any more clear.
00:27:16Right there.
00:27:17A blocked shot.
00:27:18A rebound goes into the net.
00:27:20And it's 3-0 Vegas.
00:27:26Howden had played in 47 career playoff games prior to this postseason.
00:27:36Keegan Colasar's bang.
00:27:37He's limping pretty badly here.
00:27:39He got tied up on the boards.
00:27:41He's just slowly crawling his way to the Vegas bench.
00:27:49So this match is the biggest deficit that Colorado has faced at home in these playoffs.
00:27:56Game 5 against Minnesota.
00:27:57The last home game down 3-0.
00:27:59Rally to win.
00:28:00With a much different situation here tonight.
00:28:03And that was 3-0 in the first as well.
00:28:05Yes, it was.
00:28:08And this crowd is eerily silent.
00:28:15O'Connor forced back by Hutton.
00:28:21Very nearly had Hutton and Coghlan as goal scorers tonight.
00:28:25The two-on-one that Hutton led just out of the box.
00:28:28What's the daily double on that one?
00:28:29Oh my goodness.
00:28:30Well, Coghlan scoring the first goal of the game was plus 7,000.
00:28:37There might be a couple of someones who are happy.
00:28:45Coghlan up and down seven times this year between the AHL and the NHL.
00:28:53Had a good year.
00:28:54Scored 14 goals down in Henderson.
00:28:57The most recent goal is Howden.
00:29:00His ninth from Hutton at 1-34.
00:29:05And some surprising people for Vegas who picked up points tonight.
00:29:09Coghlan has a goal.
00:29:11Sod and systems an assist.
00:29:13And Hutton an assist.
00:29:14Hutton hadn't had a point in the playoffs.
00:29:16Had played in six games prior to tonight.
00:29:19The only big boys on the board are Dorofaev and Marner who combined on that power play goal.
00:29:24The sixth straight game with a power play goal for Vegas.
00:29:28That is their record within a single postseason.
00:29:36Right at the end of the power play.
00:29:38Malinsky is going to try and force this shot through.
00:29:40Howden blocks it.
00:29:41He recognizes that Hutton is out of the box.
00:29:44So now it's a two-on-one.
00:29:46Hutton's shot is stopped by the blocker of Wedgward.
00:29:50And Howden chips it into the net.
00:29:52Here's where Kolasar got shaken up.
00:29:55He took Kulak out of the play.
00:29:56Sitting right beside me here.
00:29:57He's got his head down.
00:29:58He's trying to regroup a little bit on the bench.
00:30:01And when you get tied up like that, it's always like an ankle or a knee that gets tweaked a
00:30:06little bit.
00:30:07Kolasar just hoping he's okay.
00:30:13Four minutes gone by.
00:30:15Third period game one of the Western Conference final.
00:30:20Vegas in command.
00:30:22Three to nothing.
00:30:23Landis Gogg dumps it in.
00:30:25And the top line goes off for Colorado.
00:30:32Plus 13 on the road.
00:30:34And the playoffs are these Golden Knights.
00:30:37Leckanen out in front.
00:30:39Deflected on net and stopped again by Carter Hart.
00:30:51Man Hart's been good.
00:30:53He's been good for a long period of time here as he started every game of the playoffs.
00:30:57He finished the regular season off on a really good run as well.
00:31:01And this one's a snazzy little glove as Nelson deflected it.
00:31:06Hart tracks it.
00:31:08Makes the save.
00:31:09He has stopped the last 44 shots on goal dating back to game six.
00:31:15Deciding game at Anaheim.
00:31:19One of the reasons it was a pillow fight in the Pacific and Vegas struggled for a little bit was
00:31:25the goaltending.
00:31:27Their save percentage in the regular season was 879.
00:31:32That was 27th in the NHL with Hart missing most of the year.
00:31:37They had never had a season in their history when their team save percentage was below 900.
00:31:44But Carter Hart returned his save percentage in these playoffs is 920 and getting better.
00:32:02Anderson came over from Calgary.
00:32:06He's paired with Hannafin.
00:32:08They've been a nice duo on defense.
00:32:09They're both former Calgary Flames.
00:32:16Molenski leading the rush.
00:32:18He got checked by Hannafin.
00:32:21And Noah played it out off the glove of Nelson.
00:32:26So no icing.
00:32:31Taves.
00:32:33With Dorothea been on the four check.
00:32:36And look at Vegas.
00:32:37He's got four guys back on their side of center.
00:32:39They're not going to get drawn into giving up a rush chance for Colorado.
00:32:45You can hear a pin drop in here.
00:32:49Here's Emily.
00:32:50Well at the break I spoke to Nolan Pratt who runs Colorado's D.
00:32:53And so many areas he said they're missing Cale McCarr.
00:32:56But the biggest is breakouts.
00:32:58For the rest of the team he said the biggest issue is Vegas is defending really hard in the middle
00:33:02of the ice.
00:33:03And they were telling the guys you've got to continue to get pucks there, bodies there.
00:33:07And if you're not committed to attacking that area, the interior, then we're not going to win this game.
00:33:13Vegas is big and they push you outside and they keep you outside.
00:33:16And the coach is right.
00:33:18You have to fight your way into the middle of the ice.
00:33:22And it's not going to be easy and sometimes you won't get there.
00:33:25But you cannot just let yourself stay out there and think that you're dangerous.
00:33:30You're not.
00:33:32Eichel heads to the net.
00:33:33Return pass from Barbashev.
00:33:35Didn't get through to him.
00:33:37Barbashev centers and it's skated off by Nechuskin.
00:33:42Off it goes.
00:33:44Centering pass.
00:33:45They score.
00:33:46Nechuskin tips it in off the feed from Colton.
00:33:51And Colorado is on the board.
00:34:00Oh, did they need this?
00:34:04Valeri Nechuskin is going to create it and finish it.
00:34:09His second of the playoffs only.
00:34:11Starting the three-on-two.
00:34:13As the two Vegas defenders, Coughlin and Hutton, run into each other.
00:34:17That opens up the front of the net off.
00:34:20Through his own legs.
00:34:24Sleek tick.
00:34:25Tipped by Nechuskin.
00:34:27Off the pad and in.
00:34:28And finally, outside, they get something to cheer about.
00:34:31The break is the Vegas defenders colliding.
00:34:35The skill of Nechuskin makes it 3-1.
00:34:40The second of the playoffs.
00:34:43And that brings the crowd to life inside and out.
00:34:47That crowd outside might have been smaller than anticipated due to some bad weather that came through.
00:34:52Late this afternoon and into the evening.
00:34:56Hurdle into the corner.
00:34:57And a little life in the step of the Avs.
00:35:01And plenty of time remaining.
00:35:0313-45.
00:35:05They were the highest scoring team in the NHL the regular season and in the playoffs.
00:35:10Averaging more than four goals per game in this postseason.
00:35:15And Chushkin from Colton at 5-54.
00:35:18If you can put a couple of shifts together.
00:35:19Stack them up.
00:35:20Maybe you get Vegas out of this defensive posture they're in.
00:35:27Nechus on the move.
00:35:28Couldn't get all the way through the traffic as Theodore held his ground as he always does.
00:35:34Taves, Molenski, and it's touched in by Nechus.
00:35:37Top line out there for Bednar.
00:35:40Landeskog went down.
00:35:41The crowd wanted to call.
00:35:42They don't get it.
00:35:45And it's played the length of the ice.
00:35:47And an icing call against the VGK.
00:35:51The NHL app is your place to get every highlight from every game of every series.
00:35:56Behind the scenes playoff content you won't get anywhere else.
00:35:59The most NHL edge advanced stats.
00:36:02The Stanley Cup playoffs are better on the NHL app.
00:36:12Landis Kog and Carlson, the faceoff.
00:36:16Won by Landis Kog.
00:36:18McKinnon behind the net.
00:36:21Nechus is in the blue paint.
00:36:23McKinnon couldn't shed.
00:36:25McNabb bouncing puck.
00:36:26It was at the feet of Landis Kog for a moment.
00:36:31Howden plays it out.
00:36:32Burns lost his stick.
00:36:34It was broken as he went pinching in aggressively with the avalanche buzzing around the net front.
00:36:4112-35 to go.
00:36:44And they're offside.
00:36:5112 and a half to go.
00:36:523-1 Vegas.
00:36:54The Stanley Cup playoffs on ESPN presented by GEICO.
00:36:57It feels good to have a winning team.
00:36:59It feels good to GEICO.
00:37:26It feels good to GEICO.
00:37:37The crowd alive with the avalanche on the board.
00:37:41They were down 3-0.
00:37:43But the goal by Val Nachuskin has them within 2.
00:37:47And still a long way to go.
00:37:4912 and a half minutes remaining here in downtown Denver.
00:37:52Hannafin with Nachuskin right on his tail.
00:37:54Well, Chuskin was a big part of their Stanley Cup championship in 2022.
00:38:01Manson fanned.
00:38:03Here's Smith.
00:38:04Missed the net.
00:38:08Countering the other way.
00:38:09Nelson drops it off.
00:38:12Nachus in the slot.
00:38:13Off the arm of Carter Hart.
00:38:16Into the corner.
00:38:18And now Cole Smith sidestepped the check.
00:38:22He came over at the deadline from Nashville.
00:38:26He brought Nick Dowd over as well.
00:38:28Near the trade deadline.
00:38:30They're both on the fourth line.
00:38:32They don't stand still in Vegas.
00:38:35Constantly in win now mode.
00:38:38And it works.
00:38:39They're in the final conference final for the fifth time in their nine-year history.
00:38:43He won a Stanley Cup in their sixth year of existence.
00:38:48Dorfeev.
00:38:50Four power play goals in these playoffs with his goal tonight.
00:38:53He got tangled up and shoved down by Burns.
00:38:58Those four power play goals tie Mark Stone's franchise record for power play goals in a single postseason.
00:39:04Stone did it in 2023.
00:39:06Stone not playing tonight.
00:39:08Centering pass.
00:39:09And that shot by Lekkonen wound up in the corner.
00:39:16Lekkonen tried to lift the stick at McNabb.
00:39:19They keep the puck.
00:39:20Do the avalanche.
00:39:22Eichel gets it out with help from Theodore.
00:39:25Gave it back to Jack Eichel.
00:39:26And then Molenski came all the way back to take it away from Eichel.
00:39:31Both teams changing.
00:39:32A lot of skating room for Molenski.
00:39:34Dumps it in.
00:39:35Goes after it himself.
00:39:36Read it in the corner by Rasmus Anderson.
00:39:3910.40 to go third period.
00:39:44And it's played out by Carlson.
00:39:47Colorado's lines are significantly changed.
00:39:49We talked about it late in the second period.
00:39:51Now they've got Kadri and Colton and Nick Waugh together.
00:39:57Lekkonen has moved to McKinnon's line.
00:39:59They're looking for something here.
00:40:01See if they can get one to get close.
00:40:03Kulak that was blocked by Anderson.
00:40:09Waugh back for Kulak.
00:40:11Free out in front.
00:40:14And it is frozen.
00:40:18With 10.07 to go.
00:40:21Momentum clearly on the side of Colorado now.
00:40:25The Juskin's goal changes the whole tenor of the building and of the game.
00:40:28The long shot from Kulak is deflected in front by Colton.
00:40:33The puck goes underneath the pad of Hart.
00:40:36But he's able to get his pad flat enough, quick enough with the help of the stick to deny the
00:40:42shot.
00:40:43And then the rebound swat by Colton.
00:40:46Gets some help from his defense.
00:40:48But man, Hart has had a terrific night.
00:40:51Colton that close to making it 3-2.
00:41:03Brock Nelson, Nick Dowd, the faceoff.
00:41:09And Theodore banked it out off the glass.
00:41:11Tavis, weak pass, picked off by Kulakasar.
00:41:17He's back out there after he hobbled off earlier in this period.
00:41:23Dowd tried to set it in deeper.
00:41:24And the centering try by Smith is deflected up into the netting.
00:41:32As Vegas is 15-4-1 in their last 20 games, Carter Hart has had a lot to do with
00:41:38it.
00:41:38He's had a sensational playoff and a great start here in Game 1.
00:41:44A 3-1 Vegas lead.
00:41:51Denver, where the Golden Knights have built a 3-1 lead despite missing their captain, Mark Stone.
00:41:56He also missed the final three games against the Ducks with this undisclosed injury.
00:42:00Now, Stone didn't make the trip.
00:42:02That wasn't a guarantee.
00:42:03And he got on the ice this morning with the other scratch players.
00:42:07That's the first time he's skated in a team environment.
00:42:10There is an expectation that he will play in this series.
00:42:13But this sounds like an injury he's going to have to manage.
00:42:17The big loss.
00:42:24Earl shoved O'Connor off the puck.
00:42:27That led to McNabb.
00:42:28Backhand a right in on Wedgwood who covers.
00:42:31More than midway through the third period now.
00:42:359.35 to go.
00:42:37Vegas leading 3-1.
00:42:39Mark Stone touches so much of the Vegas game.
00:42:43Whether it's a penalty kill or a power play.
00:42:45One of the best thieves of the puck in the National Hockey League.
00:42:50John Tortorella, like every coach that ends up coaching Stone,
00:42:53grows a great appreciation for him in a hurry.
00:42:58There's a knack for being at his best in the biggest moments.
00:43:07He's had all kinds of injury things that he's had to deal with
00:43:10and manage over his career.
00:43:12And this is another one here.
00:43:14They hope they get him back sooner rather than later.
00:43:18Hurdle on the faceoff.
00:43:20Hannafin shot it wide.
00:43:21Anderson couldn't move it in deeper as it was stopped by Kelly.
00:43:27Picked back up by Hurdle.
00:43:30And he's pursued by Waugh.
00:43:34Hurdle toward the net by Sissons.
00:43:39Saad.
00:43:41This line hasn't played a lot lately for Vegas.
00:43:45Waugh crossed the line.
00:43:51Under nine minutes to go now.
00:43:55Sent toward the net by Taves.
00:43:56Hoping for a tip.
00:43:57Centering pass.
00:43:58Hopped over the stick of Parker Kelly.
00:44:01Gloved down by Taves.
00:44:04Not a lot of help for O'Connor.
00:44:06They're in the midst of a line change.
00:44:07Taves is still on.
00:44:09O'Connor's trying to get it to him.
00:44:12Good work by Sissons to prevent that.
00:44:15And now Hannafin.
00:44:18Back of the line.
00:44:19Taves still out there.
00:44:21Snapped it toward the net.
00:44:22That hit Sissons up high.
00:44:27Played in by Barbashev who was hindered a bit as he tried to go into the four check.
00:44:35Barbashev's won two Stanley Cups.
00:44:36One with St. Louis in 2019.
00:44:38He was part of the Vegas Cup winner in 2023.
00:44:44Turned over to Landeskog.
00:44:46And then out of the zone.
00:44:49Plenty of players on each side.
00:44:51Won a Stanley Cup.
00:44:52Twelve on Vegas have won at least one Stanley Cup.
00:44:56And eleven Colorado Avalanche players have their name on Lord Stanley's Cup.
00:45:02Vegas has blocked 20 shots tonight.
00:45:05Trying to protect the two goal lead.
00:45:07Time running down on Colorado.
00:45:13And the play is offside with 7.38 to go.
00:45:18Just can't find any room.
00:45:20Every time he gets the puck, there's one Vegas Golden Knight and then a second coming in support.
00:45:25And one of the challenges is as the game gets later and your frustrations build,
00:45:32is that you still keep playing the game.
00:45:34And for McKinnon, it's focus on him all the time.
00:45:39And without McCarr, it's easier to check him because there's one less transporter of the puck for Colorado.
00:45:47Well, it'll be interesting to see if McCarr is able to go in game two.
00:45:52Well, the other part to that, Sean, is if he can, at what percentage is he's okay to participate?
00:46:00Howden went hard into the boards.
00:46:01He is limping toward the Vegas bench.
00:46:04Their man short on the defensive end for the moment.
00:46:07That leads to a good chance for Molenski.
00:46:10With Saad scurrying on to take Howden's place.
00:46:13Molenski again, a couple of tips and a right pad flashed out by Hart.
00:46:22Played in by Smith.
00:46:25Kale McCarr, I mean, they had a week off since they ended the Minnesota series and he still wasn't able
00:46:33to go.
00:46:33And watching that game five, our friends at TNT made the point a number of times that McCarr really did
00:46:41look like he was hurting and nowhere near his usual self.
00:46:45Here's a centering pass and it slides off the stick of Saad into the corner.
00:46:50Down to 6.35 to go.
00:46:53Colasar sent it back to the line.
00:46:55Theodore from McNabb.
00:46:57And that one is smothered by Wedgwood.
00:47:03Vegas took a 3-0 lead this period when Brett Howden scored his ninth goal of the playoffs.
00:47:08He's trying to get in on the four check.
00:47:09He's impeded by Molenski and then loses his feet.
00:47:14You see his left leg get bent back behind him.
00:47:17He's going about 20 miles an hour by the time he gets there.
00:47:20Yikes.
00:47:22And he's on the limp.
00:47:24He's sitting right beside me now, just kind of rocking back and forth.
00:47:27And you just hope that the, as you're sitting there, you're hoping that the pain just goes away.
00:47:37Scaled around.
00:47:40Colton couldn't get it out past Anderson, so they tried the other side.
00:47:45Good work on the four check by this Vegas group.
00:47:52And it's Jack Curry to the rescue through center ice, and he backhands it in, and Hart's going to hang
00:47:59on to it.
00:48:06Vegas Golden Knights, the underdog in this series.
00:48:09Dying a win in game one on the road, up 3-1 with 5.56 to go.
00:48:21I'm Scott Van Pelt.
00:48:23We are getting set for SportsCenter.
00:48:24When this one is done, we will visit with one of the stars of the game.
00:48:27P.K. Subban will stop by as well.
00:48:31Also, playoff action in the Western Conference Finals and the NBA.
00:48:33A good one going between the Spurs and the Thunder.
00:48:36All that is on the way.
00:48:37We'll see if the Avs can get back in it.
00:48:39Vegas has been impressive.
00:48:40Sean, from the start.
00:48:43Yes, they have.
00:48:44It's a team that's played very well coming into the playoffs and through these playoffs with the return of Harder
00:48:50Hart.
00:48:50As John Tortorella says, when the goaltending isn't good, it affects everybody.
00:48:56But when you believe that the goalie's going to stop everything, it permeates the rest of the team.
00:49:04You play a bit more freely with more confidence.
00:49:09That is directed right toward the net from the corner by McKinnon.
00:49:14And Hart was alert to it.
00:49:18Colorado's gotten the puck to the front here.
00:49:20They've had people in front of the net.
00:49:21And part of playing goal is you've got to fight for the loose puck.
00:49:25This thing's bouncing in there and Hart's got to make the save.
00:49:28He knows there's someone coming.
00:49:30In that case, it was Landeskog.
00:49:32But he's able to cover it.
00:49:33Colorado, just every puck goes to the front of the net right now.
00:49:37They get people there and they're hoping for a tip, a bounce, a rebound, whatever it can be to try
00:49:42and get them to within one.
00:49:4718,109 on hand here tonight.
00:49:50That's a sellout as you would expect.
00:49:51The 200th consecutive sellout, regular season and playoffs at Ball Arena.
00:49:56But they're very quiet and concerned as Barbashev sent it toward the net front.
00:50:02Was stopped by Wedgwood.
00:50:04Here's McKinnon trying to get around.
00:50:06Hannafinner goes diving.
00:50:08McKinnon tried to center and hit Barbashev.
00:50:11Wound up with Lekkonen.
00:50:13What a shot from close range.
00:50:15Natchez dropped it back and Kulak couldn't keep it in.
00:50:20They enter again with McKinnon.
00:50:22Natchez heads to the net.
00:50:23And backhands one wide.
00:50:26Poked in by Kadri and then cleared.
00:50:30By the Golden Knights, it will be an icing call.
00:50:35And now they wave it off at the last moment.
00:50:40Byrne's turned it over to Marner.
00:50:43Steered into the corner by Wedgwood.
00:50:46Howden is out there after the nasty crash into the back wall.
00:50:51Kadri for Kulak.
00:50:54Kulak goes to the net front.
00:50:57Set down low.
00:50:59Kadri with it.
00:51:00Up high Manson.
00:51:02Now Natchez.
00:51:04And that one dribbles into the corner.
00:51:06Down to 4.
00:51:0610 to go.
00:51:08Does Jared Bednar think about pulling the goalie down by two soon?
00:51:14Hadri almost ran into his own man, Natchez.
00:51:17Natchez broke his stick.
00:51:19On the shot at 10th.
00:51:20He lines up with Marner.
00:51:2310th to send it cross ice into the corner.
00:51:26Smith went in on the 4 check.
00:51:27He got knocked off the puck by Manson.
00:51:313.45 to go.
00:51:34O'Connor swept it in.
00:51:38McKinnon's lines up next here.
00:51:41I think we're probably getting close here.
00:51:43Right around 3 minutes for Wedgwood to come out of the net.
00:51:48Dowd got it in behind the net.
00:51:51Here's Kelly.
00:51:53Broken up at his own line by Smith.
00:51:55Both 4th lines are on.
00:51:57With 3.20 remaining.
00:52:01Molenski.
00:52:03That shot in by Burns.
00:52:06Strange carom right back out in front.
00:52:08But Kelly was tied up by Eichel.
00:52:11And there is going to be a penalty.
00:52:21Francis Sherall came over to make sure that O'Connor wasn't cut.
00:52:24It's a two-minute high-sticking penalty.
00:52:27And it's to Shea Theodore who has been a beast tonight.
00:52:34That's not the guy they want in the box right now with the shorthand situation upcoming.
00:52:3926 minutes on the night for Theodore.
00:52:43He kills penalties for them.
00:52:45He won't be available clearly.
00:52:47And with Scott Wedgwood coming to the bench, it's a six-on-four for Colorado.
00:52:56Theodore has blocked seven shots tonight.
00:52:59So Wedgwood to the bench with 3.08 to go and a great opportunity for Colorado to make it a
00:53:06one-goal game.
00:53:07Five forwards and Devon Taves.
00:53:10This face-off for McKinnon, he has to tie it up.
00:53:14He cannot lose this draw because Vegas can just shoot it down the ice.
00:53:19McKinnon and Eichel on the draw.
00:53:24Ten out of 14 at the dot for McKinnon tonight.
00:53:37It comes to Anderson.
00:53:39Bouncing puck will miss the open net.
00:53:42They can fire away at it shorthanded without taking an icing call.
00:53:50Here's McKinnon.
00:53:52Press play to Natchez.
00:53:53Cutting to the middle.
00:53:54And then playing it back for Kadri.
00:53:56Trying to spin away from Eichel.
00:53:58Kadri went down.
00:54:00Rescued by Landisgaard.
00:54:02He has it in the middle.
00:54:04Tied up by Carlson.
00:54:05Anderson sends it out.
00:54:08When Natchez comes over the line and cuts in there, Sean,
00:54:11he's got to keep going into the middle.
00:54:13He draws everyone to him.
00:54:15When he kicks it outside, it's not dangerous anymore.
00:54:18McKinnon right up the middle.
00:54:19His shot attempt stopped by McNabb.
00:54:22Good move to Shed McNabb.
00:54:23Right out in front.
00:54:24They score!
00:54:27Landisgaard with 2.20 to go!
00:54:43What a play by McKinnon.
00:54:47He looks like he's closed off.
00:54:49There's nowhere to go.
00:54:50Whoops!
00:54:51There goes Braden McNabb.
00:54:52And he waits for Landisgaard to start his pivot to get back towards the net.
00:54:58The pass goes over Anderson's stick.
00:55:00And then as Landisgaard shoots it, watch the puck deflect off of Anderson's stick here
00:55:05and deflect up over the pad of Carter Hart.
00:55:10A beautiful play by McKinnon.
00:55:12Landisgaard gets the bounce.
00:55:14And we got a one-goal game with 2.20 left.
00:55:19A power play goal.
00:55:21So Vegas back at full strength.
00:55:23Wedgwood's back in the net for Colorado, at least for the moment.
00:55:29Blink it in.
00:55:31Off the glass.
00:55:32Long cam to Burns, threw it toward the net.
00:55:35It didn't get through.
00:55:36And it's cleared by Vegas.
00:55:38That'll be another icing call against the VGK.
00:55:41With 2.02 to go.
00:55:43And the place going crazy now.
00:55:53The history of the Stanley Cup playoffs has never been three-goal comeback wins in back-to-back games.
00:56:02The Avalanche trailed 3-0 in game five against Minnesota here.
00:56:07Rally to win in overtime.
00:56:08They trailed 3-0 tonight.
00:56:11They're within 3-2, the net is empty, the extra attacker is on.
00:56:19Nelson and Carlson in the huge face-off.
00:56:24Played back behind the net for McNabb.
00:56:27Shooting at the empty net, blocked at center ice by Taves.
00:56:30Taves has to be careful with Marner right on his tail.
00:56:33Gets turned over to Carlson.
00:56:35With the net empty, Landis gone, played it back to Taves.
00:56:41Ordinarily, this would be McCarr, obviously.
00:56:43But Taves, a talented defenseman who can play offensively in his own right.
00:56:49Scaled hard around.
00:56:51And gloved down by Taves.
00:56:54Avs will have to regroup with a minute and a half to go in the third period.
00:56:583-2.
00:56:59Vegas trying to hang on and win game one of this Western Conference final on the road.
00:57:05Good play by Kadri along the wall.
00:57:08Now he sends it back for Taves.
00:57:10Got rid of it as he was pressured by Barbashev.
00:57:12It comes to McKinnon.
00:57:15Taves creeping in closer.
00:57:161-10 to go.
00:57:18McKinnon into the circle.
00:57:19Out in front.
00:57:20Landis God was surrounded.
00:57:22They couldn't clear.
00:57:22Taves knocked it down.
00:57:24McKinnon again.
00:57:25Throws it on the net.
00:57:27Rebound was free for a moment.
00:57:29And it's covered by Hart.
00:57:31With 59.3 to go.
00:57:35And the Avs pressing hard.
00:57:42All kinds of pressure when Vegas doesn't get the puck out.
00:57:46Now McKinnon's got it again.
00:57:47He shoots this right in with Nelson fighting with Hart.
00:57:51Hart's able to make the stop and get the freeze.
00:57:5559 seconds left.
00:57:56We got the timeout.
00:57:58And Jared Bednar will get some rest for his guys.
00:58:01And to be able to draw the face-off play.
00:58:03It'll be over on that left side.
00:58:05So that's Brock Nelson's face-off spot.
00:58:10Over on the other bench.
00:58:12Vegas is going to get to put the centerman that they want out there.
00:58:15It'll be a right-handed center.
00:58:17I would suspect it's Eichel.
00:58:19And Ray, Vegas has won eight of the last nine.
00:58:22I would ask you this.
00:58:23If you're Jared Bednar, Jack Drury is your best face-off man.
00:58:27And he's in the top 20 in league history all time in face-off win percentage.
00:58:33He was on the ice for a moment.
00:58:35But he's gone back to the bench now.
00:58:40Yeah, I would think about it.
00:58:42But they're going to go with Nelson on this draw.
00:58:44So they've got their most veteran group of guys on the ice.
00:58:49The guys that have done it for him before.
00:58:52Always a decision to make in this moment.
00:58:55So it'll be on the draw.
00:58:57It'll be Nick Dowd.
00:58:59Who Vegas traded for.
00:59:01For kind of this spot.
00:59:02Right?
00:59:03It's a big face-off.
00:59:04It's in the right corner.
00:59:05And he's against Brock Nelson.
00:59:07Nelson, six out of 13 tonight.
00:59:09Dowd, eight out of 14.
00:59:13One cleanly by Dowd into the corner.
00:59:15McNabb lost his footing.
00:59:18McKinnon moves it back.
00:59:19Taves a shot.
00:59:21Rebound free.
00:59:21Eichel at the empty net just wide.
00:59:25But Dowd is down there.
00:59:27Dowd scores.
00:59:28Into the empty net.
00:59:30Four to two.
00:59:31Vegas with 44 and a half to go.
00:59:41When Nick Dowd was traded in Washington, they talked about how it was just a hit to their team.
00:59:47An extremely popular player.
00:59:49A really good fourth-line defensive center and penalty killer.
00:59:53And after Colorado had one last chance, Eichel's shot will go wide in the net.
00:59:59He's going to pick up his 15th assist in the playoffs on Dowd's empty netter.
01:00:03And on the road, in game one, Vegas steals home ice advantage.
01:00:09And takes a 4-2 lead here after Colorado pushed back.
01:00:15Down three.
01:00:15Nothing to make it 3-2.
01:00:20Nick Dowd.
01:00:21And his third goal of these playoffs.
01:00:26Just his seventh career goal in 53 playoff games.
01:00:31Another trade deadline acquisition.
01:00:37And he's made a huge play tonight.
01:00:39They're streaming to the exits now here in Ball Arena.
01:00:44Burns.
01:00:45Pad save made by Hart.
01:00:49The Avs pushed.
01:00:52But the VGK will prevail in game one.
01:00:56A lot of stories here that we'll talk about over the next couple days.
01:01:00Their story number one, though.
01:01:02Carter Hart comes in and on the road.
01:01:05He faces 38 shots here.
01:01:08To this point, he's been terrific for Vegas.
01:01:10As he's been through the playoffs, he'll get his ninth win.
01:01:14All nine of the Vegas wins, Hart has won.
01:01:17Vegas played a really strong road game.
01:01:19And they had to withstand a push.
01:01:21Because Colorado really shoved hard here in this third period.
01:01:26Final 15 seconds.
01:01:29Dowd's third.
01:01:30And he has an empty net to shoot at again if he wants to.
01:01:33Third playoff goal.
01:01:34He had just won in 20 regular season games for Vegas.
01:01:37After he was acquired.
01:01:39The Landisgar goal was his fourth from McKinnon and Taves.
01:01:43At 1740, that gave Colorado a chance.
01:01:47But the empty netter made the outcome no longer in doubt.
01:01:51And Carter Hart gets congratulated as he should.
01:01:55His return changed the whole tenor of their season.
01:02:00When you fire a terrific coach with nine games to go,
01:02:05you're not exactly sailing right along.
01:02:07But now they are, including a one-game-to-none lead.
01:02:12With game two coming your way here on ESPN Friday night
01:02:16at 8 Eastern time, 6 here in Colorado.
01:02:20Carolina and Montreal get underway tomorrow on TNT.
01:02:31First home loss of these playoffs for the Avs.
01:02:37They just didn't have it early, Sean.
01:02:39They struggled for cohesion.
01:02:41I think it's pretty clear they missed McCarr.
01:02:44But Vegas comes in and on the road steals home ice advantage.
01:02:48Team playing with a lot of confidence right now.
01:02:51Here's Emily with Mitch Marner.
01:02:53Mitch, you guys come into a building.
01:02:54Colorado hasn't lost here yet in the playoffs.
01:02:56You're without your captain, Mark Stone.
01:02:58What's the most impressive part of this win to you?
01:03:01Again, everyone just bought in.
01:03:02All four lines, all three deep pairs.
01:03:04Some big goals, some big plays from all over our lineup.
01:03:07So that's something we've been talking about throughout this whole playoffs.
01:03:11Our team has just bought in, and all four lines have really done a great job.
01:03:15You said big plays.
01:03:16Your pass to Dorofiev on the power play that he scored.
01:03:19Most players wouldn't dare to try a play like that.
01:03:21What does Torz tell you about taking risks?
01:03:24Well, I mean, you know, he's great with letting you do your plays
01:03:27if he thinks you can make them.
01:03:28Obviously, sometimes we're on the power play there.
01:03:30So, you know, kind of worth the shot there.
01:03:32And, you know, I see Pav coming in late.
01:03:34I think I can make that play.
01:03:35You know, in the summertime, I work on a lot of crazy stuff that, you know,
01:03:39results in me trying crazy stuff in the game.
01:03:41So, yeah, you know, just trying to make a play there.
01:03:44And great play by Pav to find the ice and make it go in the net.
01:03:46Why is John Tortorello been such a good coach for you guys?
01:03:50I think he's letting us play our game, letting us play free.
01:03:53At the same time, he's saying what we need to hear
01:03:55if we're not playing the way that we need to play.
01:03:57So, yeah, it's been great.
01:03:59We had some massive say, some heart, too, obviously,
01:04:00tonight to keep that game where it was.
01:04:02So full lineup buy-in.
01:04:04Torch's been great.
01:04:04Just like I said, he'll let us know if we need to be better.
01:04:08He's also great at, you know, getting us hyped up.
01:04:10Awesome.
01:04:11Well, congrats on a big win.
01:04:12We'll see you Friday night for game two.
01:04:13Yeah, thank you.
01:04:14Appreciate it, man.
01:04:14Yeah, thank you.
01:04:15Total team effort.
01:04:17Dylan Coughlin started the scoring.
01:04:19A man who's been waived three times since 2023.
01:04:25Final score, Vegas 4, Colorado 2.
01:04:30Reminder, we'll be back here with game two in Denver,
01:04:32Friday night at 8.
01:04:34Now for Emily Coughlin, Ray Ferraro, Dave Jackson,
01:04:37and our great crew.
01:04:38Sean McDonough saying, so long from Denver.
01:04:42Let's send you to SportsCenter.
01:04:44Here's Scott Van Pelt.
01:04:47Here's Scott Van Pelt.
01:04:48We'll be back here with game two.
01:04:56Let's get out.
01:05:03We'll be back.
01:05:04We'll be back.
01:05:05Tonight, let's get out.
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