Dan Kingerski
The Vegas Golden Knights are just three wins away from the Stanley Cup Final. Playing without captain Mark Stone, the Golden Knights’ depth scoring filled the net and survived a comeback from the Cale Makar-less Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final at Ball Arena Wednesday.
The Golden Knights lead the WCF 1-0.
After a comfortable 3-0 lead well into the third period, the Golden Knights beat back Colorado’s comeback attempt when Nic Dowd (3) added the empty netter at 19:15. That was the end, as unhappy Colorado fans found the exit.
Despite Colorado having the better of early play, the Golden Knights had the better scoring chances. In fact, VGK coach John Tortorella’s system took away the middle of the ice from Colorado’s vaunted attack, which led the NHL in goals this season. Without Makar, who is out day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the Golden Knights’ structure in the first period kept the game scoreless.
Golden Knights goalie Carter Hart was also brilliant, making several tough stops and plenty of glove saves as the Golden Knights clearly won the goalie battle. As the Golden Knights’ lead grew, Colorado’s shot total ballooned as well. Hart stopped 36 of 38 shots for the biggest win of his embattled career.
After a scoreless first period, the most unlikely player lit the lamp. In the second period, journeyman defenseman Dylan Coghlan scored his first NHL goal since Dec. 17, 2021. Over the last six years, the D-man has bounced from the Golden Knights to Carolina to Winnipeg and back to the Golden Knights, all the while spending more time in the AHL than the NHL.
However, Coghlan was the late trailer on the Golden Knights’ rush. Coghlan (1) was wide open in the slot and his straight wrister slipped through Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood at 12:29 of the second period.
Just a couple of minutes later, Mitch Marner continued his revenge tour with a brilliant power play setup. At full speed, Marner danced through three would-be defenders at the Colorado blue line before putting a soft pass on Pavel Dorofeyev’s stick in the low slot. Dorofeyev (10) quickly beat Wedgewood for a power play goal at 15:02 of the second.
Marner has 12 assists in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. So much for the knock that he disappears in the playoffs.
The Golden Knights stacked the game winner early in the third period at the conclusion of a Colorado power play. Brett Howden blocked a shot high in the zone and sprang defenseman Carter Hutton, who had just stepped out of the penalty box, on a two-on-one. Wedgewood made the easy save on Hutton from the right circle, but Howden (9) poked the sloppy rebound into the net at 1:34.
The Golden Knights were cruising to a Game 1 win, clogging the neutral zone and keeping Colorado to the perimeter, but the game tightened update in the third when Colorado finally cracked Hart.
After dragging the stick between his feet, Valeri Nichushkin (2) scored on a beautiful tip-in at 5:53 of the third.
Colorado pulled to within 3-2 when Gabriel Landeskog’s shot deflected off a defenseman and zipped over Hart’s extended right pad at 17:39.
Wedgewood stopped 24 of 27.
Notes:
Golden Knights captain Mark Stone skated with the team at the morning skate for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury against the Anaheim Ducks in Round Two.
Cale Makar remains out day-to-day, and his status for Game 2 is unknown.
VGK defenseman Shea Theodore and Colorado center Nazem Kadri led all players with five shots on goal.
Jack Eichel assisted on Dowd’s empty net goal, his league-leading 15th assist of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
