The Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche meet in a highly anticipated Game 1 of the 2026 NHL Western Conference finals on Wednesday. Both teams are looking to clinch their second Stanley Cup, with Vegas aiming for their title in four years and Colorado in five.

Game Details:

• Date: Wednesday
• Face-off: 8 p.m. ET
• Location: Ball Arena, Denver

The Avalanche (55-16-11), who topped the Central Division with a league-best 121 points, have made the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights (39-26-17), having secured the Pacific Division with 95 points, have reached the postseason in eight of their nine years.

In the latest odds, Colorado is favored at -195, while the over/under for total goals scored stands at 6.5. The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the matchup 10,000 times, boasting a +668 return on top-rated money-line picks.

Key Predictions:

• Total Goals: Model predicts the game will go Over 6.5 goals.
• Player Projections:
  • Pavel Dorofeyev (Vegas): 0.46 goals, 0.27 assists
  • Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado): 0.67 goals, 0.98 assists

Additional Insights:

• The Over has been successful in 16 of 30 games with Carter Hart starting for Vegas.
• Colorado averaged 4.11 goals per game, the best in the NHL, while Vegas ranked third at 3.67 goals.

For comprehensive betting advice and to see the model's picks, fans are encouraged to check out the insights available at SportsLine.