Stanley Cup playoffs daily: Previews, stats, schedule, bracketESPN staffMay 21, 2026, 07:00 AM ETMultiple Authors
tamil yogi
The opening games have been played in the conference finals round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, and one thing is clear: This will be a super fun set of matchups — particularly for fans of the sport who don’t necessarily have a rooting interest!
On Friday, the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche will square off in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals (8 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Golden Knights took Game 1 thanks to some clutch scoring by the usual suspects (Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden) along with a player who scored his first-ever playoff goal (Dylan Coghlan). Can the Avs get enough scoring to knot the series before the venue shifts to Sin City?
Here’s a look at keys to Friday’s game — along with a best bet — as well as highlights from Thursday and updated playoff stats leaders.
Read more:
Full schedule
Playoff Central
Stanley Cup odds
Experts’ picks
Conference finals megapreview
Offseason guide for eliminated teams
Friday’s schedule
Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche
Game 2, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN) | VGK leads 1-0
In Stanley Cup playoff history, the winner of Game 1 in a best-of-seven series has a 545-254 series record, including a 10-2 record thus far in the 2026 playoffs.
The Golden Knights have won 77% of their series when taking a 1-0 lead, including both series in 2026. The Avalanche have won 42% of their series when falling behind 1-0.
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Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 10th goal of the playoffs, becoming the fifth Golden Knight to score 10 or more goals in a single postseason. He joins Jonathan Marchessault (13 in 2023), William Karlsson (11 in 2023), Mark Stone (11 in 2023) and Chandler Stephenson (10 in 2023).
Brett Howden now has nine goals this postseason, after entering the 2026 playoffs with nine goals in 43 prior postseason games. He is the sixth player in NHL history to have a six-game road goal streak, joining Brian Propp (seven-game streak in 1989), Maurice Richard (1951), Kevin Stevens (1991), Mark Scheifele (2018) and Sam Bennett (2025).
Valeri Nichushkin scored for the Avalanche in Game 1, which was his first goal in the past four games. Gabriel Landeskog also had a goal for Colorado, and his four goals this postseason ties his second most in a single postseason; his career high is 11, set in the Avs’ Stanley Cup championship year of 2022.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood allowed three goals on 27 shots in Game 1; he has now allowed three or more goals in his past two starts.
Friday’s best bet
The bet: Avalanche Puck Line -1.5 (+140)
Kudos to the Golden Knights for coming into Ball Arena in Game 1 and stealing one from Colorado, but I expect the Avalanche to answer in Game 2 and even up the series. The question then becomes how to bet it.
I don’t love the expensive -192 price on the ML, so I’ll go ahead and wager the +140 price on the Puck Line. Colorado has covered this bet at a 60.7% (17-11) rate in games following a loss this season. Whether it’s an avalanche of goals from the Colorado’s offense or a late empty-netter, I like the Avs to win Game 2 by multiple goals. — Tyler Fulghum
Thursday’s scoreboard
Montreal Canadiens 6, Carolina Hurricanes 2
Canadiens lead 1-0
After rolling through the Senators and Flyers in four games apiece, the Canes appeared ready to do something similar to the Canadiens, as Seth Jarvis scored just 33 seconds into the game. However, after that goal, the first period belong to Montreal. The Habs had four different goal scorers following Jarvis’ tally — Cole Caufield, Phillip Danault, Alexandre Texier and Ivan Demidov — and carried that 4-1 lead into the second.
Eric Robinson got one back for the Canes in the middle frame, but Juraj Slafkovsky scored two in the third period — one on a slick move through the Carolina defense, and one on an empty net — to give Montreal a comfortable 6-2 win. Game 2 is Saturday in Raleigh. Full recap | Game 1 grades
Playoff scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAP1. Mitch Marner, F, Golden Knights
Click here for full list of stats leaders.
Playoff goaltending leaders
PlayerGPWGAASV%1. Arturs Silovs, Penguins
Click here for the full list of goaltender stats.
Stanley Cup playoff bracket
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