Late rally propels Golden Knights to 2-0 series lead over Avalanche

While the second game of the Western Conference Final was another tight one, the battle between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche remained the same.

Thanks to goals in quick succession in the final frame on Friday night, the Golden Knights managed to take a commanding lead in the best-of-seven series, grabbing a 3-1 win and a 2-0 lead in the series.

It looked as if the Avalanche were going to even the series on home ice. While they were only up 1-0 through nearly 50 minutes, they seemed to have the confidence to get the job done. However, the Golden Knights rallied. Just before the halfway mark of the third, Vegas forward Jack Eichel ripped a shot past Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood for his second of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Then, just over a couple of minutes later, Eichel set up Ivan Barbashev for his fourth of the postseason, giving Vegas its first lead of the night.

That proved to be all the opening the Golden Knights needed. Goaltender Carter Hart and company closed the door in the final few minutes of regulation, with Barbashev adding his second of the game via an empty-netter, with Vegas taking a firm grip on the series and moving two wins away from a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Golden Knights came out strong, really putting the Avalanche on their heels in the early going. However, Colorado managed to settle in quickly, turning the tide with a series of good shifts as the opening frame wore on. Unlike the opening game of the set, it was the home side that struck first. With just a few minutes remaining in the first period, a point shot from Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns was blocked in the slot, only for the loose puck to be picked up by Ross Colton, who fired a shot past the glove of Hart for his second of the playoffs.

After the Golden Knights and Avalanche combined for 23 shots in the opening 20 minutes, the offense settled down on both sides in period two, especially on Vegas’ side. Even though the visitors had a pair of power plays in the stanza, they were limited to a measly four shots on goal.

Yet, despite another night of being outshot and outplayed by the home side, the Golden Knights did just enough to squeak away with a victory. Colorado outshot Vegas 30-25 in the contest, including getting outchanced in the final two periods on Friday night. After a stellar effort in the series opener, Hart was exceptional once again, making 29 saves in Game 2. Wedgewood might’ve ended up on the losing end once again, but it’s hard to point the finger at him for the Avs stumbling to a two-game hole against the Pacific Division champions. The veteran backup made 22 stops in the defeat.

Vegas went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Colorado failed to score on its chances on the man advantage.

The odds are certainly stacked against the Presidents’ Trophy winners. Losing Game 1 should’ve provided a shot in the arm, but now strailing 2-0 heading back to Sin City is only adding more pressure to a Colorado team that was hardly tested in the first two rounds of the postseason.

Game 3 in Las Vegas is set for Sunday night, with puck drop scheduled for a little after 8 p.m. ET.