The Colorado Avalanche entered Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals facing a 2-0 series hole against the Vegas Golden Knights, a deficit that has historically been insurmountable on the road.
Colorado’s head coach Jared Bednar remains confident that his squad can rewrite the narrative, pointing to a previous 27‑year‑old comeback that saw the team rally from a similar hole in the Western Conference semifinals.
A Rocky Start in Vegas
Key to any turnaround will be the return of defenseman Cale Makar, who has been sidelined with an upper‑body injury, and the resurgence of forward Logan O’Connor, who has contributed crucial goals throughout the series.
Goaltender Scott Wedgewood and backup net‑minder Parker Kelly are expected to shoulder the net‑minding duties, while veterans such as Gabriel Landeskog, Ross Colton and Valeri Nichushkin look to provide secondary scoring.
Stars Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas have been largely neutralized by the Golden Knights’ defensive schemes, but center Nicolas Roy, who once wore a Vegas jersey during their 2021 comeback, could add depth.
The Avalanche have outshot the Knights 68 to 53 across the first two games, a statistic that coach Bednar hopes will translate into more chances and a breakthrough goal.
If the series shifts, the team’s depth players — including Brock Nelson and Carter Hart — may become decisive factors in sustaining momentum.