Golden Knights rally past Avalanche 2-1 in Game 2

Barbashev, Eichel rally Knights past Avalanche in Game 2

23 May 2026

Down a goal and staring at a potential series deficit, the Vegas Golden Knights erupted for two goals in a 2:07 span late in the third period to stun the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final on Friday at Ball Arena.

Jack Eichel ended a 10-game goal drought with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood stick-side and caromed off the inside of the far post to tie the game at 1 with 10:45 remaining. Moments later, Ivan Barbashev pounced on a turnover and fired from the high slot past Wedgewood, again stick-side, to give Vegas a 2-1 lead with 8:38 to play.

The Knights, who lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, killed a late penalty to preserve the win. Game 3 is Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

First period belongs to Colton, Avalanche

Colorado opened the scoring with 3:00 left in the first period. Ross Colton whipped a shot over the left shoulder of Knights goalie Carter Hart after the puck fell to him following a blocked shot by Kaeden Korczak. Brent Burns and Nazem Kadri assisted on the goal.

The Avalanche carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission despite being outshot 12-12. Colorado improved to 5-0 in the playoffs when scoring first and had been 42-2-6 in the regular season when striking first.

Knights kill penalties, struggle on power play

Vegas went 0-for-4 on the power play, including a four-minute man advantage after Martin Necas was whistled for slashing and tripping on the same sequence early in the second period. The Knights also killed off a late penalty to Shea Theodore, who was called for slashing at 18:42 of the second period.

Defenseman Brayden McNabb left the game in the first period but returned for the third, according to the ESPN broadcast.

Lineup notes

The Golden Knights played without captain Mark Stone, who missed his fifth straight game. Colorado was without defenseman Cale Makar for the second consecutive game due to an upper-body injury.