Golden Knights stun Avalanche again to grab 2-0…
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche, the NHL’s best workforce during the common season, are in severe hazard thanks to a Vegas squad that’s on a run after a late-season teaching change.
“I don’t think people had this on their bingo card,” Golden Knights defenseman Dylan Coghlan said. “We knew we could do it.”
Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev scored in a 2:07 span in the third period and the Golden Knights surprised the Avalanche 3-1 on Friday night time to take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final.
Jack Eichel celebrates after scoring a third-period aim during the Golden Knights’ 3-1 Game 2 win over the Avalanche on May 22, 2026 in Denver. AP
Eichel tied it, then set up Barbashev for the go-ahead aim with 8:38 remaining. Barbashev added an empty-netter with 1:03 left. The comeback surprised the capability crowd and worn out the top-seeded Avalanche’s 1-0 lead.
By profitable twice at Ball Arena, the Golden Knights put the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche in a enormous gap. Since 1982, street groups that began 2-0 in the convention finals have a 13-0 sequence report.
“They understand the situation,” said Vegas coach John Tortorella, who has watched his workforce go 17-4-1 since he took over on March 29. “I’m not sure where the series goes. I’m not sure where Game 3 goes. But I know I’m not going to have to worry about that, because they get it.”
Carter Hart had another stellar efficiency, stopping 29 pictures. He made 36 saves in a 4-2 win on Wednesday.
Colorado was cruising after Ross Colton opened the scoring in the first period. But issues unraveled for the Avalanche in the third. Eichel lined a shot past Scott Wedgewood for his first aim in 11 video games to get Vegas on the board.
“I haven’t scored in a million days,” he cracked.
The Golden Knights then took benefit of a miscue — Devon Toews and Brock Nelson struggled to clear the puck along the boards in the Avalanche end — as Eichel despatched a cross to Barbashev, who rang in a shot off the post.
The Golden Knights, who are two wins away from a Stanley Cup berth, are 17-4-1 since head coach John Tortorella (above) took over on March 29. NHLI via Getty Images
This was the fourth third-period comeback by the Golden Knights in this postseason, the most in a single playoffs in workforce historical past, according to NHL Stats.
“Just resiliency,” Hart said. “That’s the key word for our group here — we’ve just stuck in games and just grinded it out, and just battled. Resiliency, that’s a term that describes our group really well. We’re never out of the fight, and we’re always grinding in games.”
Game 3 is Sunday night time in Las Vegas. The Avalanche are hoping to have star defenseman Cale Makar back in the lineup. He has missed the last two video games because of an upper-body injury.
“There’s urgency to get him back since he got hurt,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “He’s doing all the work he can possibly do to get back as fast as he can.”
Ivan Barbashev celebrates after scoring a third-period aim during the Golden Knights’ Game 2 win over the Avalanche. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Before the Golden Knights’ rally, the Avalanche have been 45-0-0 when main after two durations in the common season and playoffs mixed.
“It stings for sure right now,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “But tomorrow we’ll wake up, have a meeting, fly to Vegas and regroup. That’s all you can do.”
Vegas struggled on the ability play, going 0 of 4. The workforce also noticed defenseman Brayden McNabb limp to the locker room in the first period soon after taking a examine along the boards. He returned for the third period. The hard-checking Golden Knights completed with 32 hits and 16 blocked pictures.
“We know how hard it is to win,” Eichel said. “A lot of that falls on playing hard defensively.”
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson briefly left late in the second period after delivering a examine on Barbashev and then ramming his face into the boards.
Wedgewood had 22 saves.
“We can’t ride the emotional roller-coaster like fans,” Bednar said. “If you lose Game 1, you’re getting swept. If you win Game 1, we’re sweeping them. That’s not reality. You have to deal with the task at hand and what’s to come. We’re not going to try and win four games the next night in Vegas. We’re going to try to win one game.”
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