The Colorado Avalanche face off against the Vegas Golden Knights in the highly anticipated Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday night. The match, set for an 8 PM ET puck drop, marks a clash between the last two Stanley Cup champions from the West. The Avalanche dominated the regular-season series, finishing 2-0-1 against the Golden Knights.

As the Presidents' Trophy winners, the Avalanche hold a strong position, with their playoff history indicating they are looking to become the first team since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks to win the Cup after securing the most points in the regular season.

Key players to watch include:

• Scott Wedgewood: Expected to start for Colorado, he boasts a 7-1 record with a 2.21 GAA this postseason.
• Nathan MacKinnon: The Conn Smythe Trophy favorite, he has scored in 46.2% of his playoff games, with a six-game goal streak on the line.
• Mitch Marner: Leading the Golden Knights with 18 points in these playoffs, he looks to continue his high-scoring momentum.

In goal for Vegas, Carter Hart stands at 8-4 with a 2.37 GAA. The teams have shown contrasting performances, with Colorado significantly outscoring opponents 23-13 in nine playoff games, while Vegas has matched their scoring at 25 goals but allowed the same amount in twelve games.

Injury concerns loom as both teams may miss key forwards: Arturri Lehkonen for Colorado and Mark Stone for Vegas. The Avalanche are favored at -260 to win the series, while the Golden Knights sit at +210. The previous playoff encounter in 2021 saw Vegas triumph in six games despite being down 2-0.

With the stakes high and both teams boasting impressive playoff records, fans eagerly await how this series will unfold.