The Vegas Golden Knights are now one win away from another Stanley Cup Final appearance after delivering one of the most stunning comeback victories of the postseason in Game 3.
Down 3-0 in the first period Sunday night, Vegas stormed back with five unanswered goals to seize complete control of the Western Conference Final. Now the pressure fully shifts onto a battered Colorado Avalanche team facing elimination while also dealing with major injury concerns surrounding its biggest stars.
Colorado has the talent to make this competitive, but momentum, health, and confidence all currently sit heavily on Vegas’ side heading into Tuesday night’s pivotal Game 4.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights DATE, TIME & HOW TO WATCH | |
|---|---|
| Where | T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada |
| When | Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Betting Odds & Public Betting
The Avalanche enter Game 4 as slight -115 favorites, while the Golden Knights sit close behind at -105. The total is set at 6.5 goals.
Oddsmakers still respect Colorado’s overall talent level despite the 3-0 series deficit, but the injury situation surrounding Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin dramatically changes the outlook entering Tuesday.
Vegas has now won all three games in regulation and continues finding ways to dictate physicality, pressure Colorado defensively, and capitalize on momentum swings.
Public bettors may still gravitate toward the desperate favorite facing elimination, but the hotter and healthier side clearly appears to be Vegas right now.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights ODDS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Moneyline | Total | |
| Avalanche | -1.5 (+200) | -115 | U 6.5 (-125) |
| Golden Knights | +1.5 (-280) | -105 | O 6.5 (+105) |
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Key Notes & Storylines
Game 3 may have completely shifted the emotional balance of this series.
Colorado looked ready to climb back into the matchup after building an early 3-0 lead, but Vegas responded with relentless pressure and completely overwhelmed the Avalanche over the final two periods. Blowing a three-goal playoff lead while simultaneously losing key stars to injury creates enormous psychological pressure entering an elimination game.
Nathan MacKinnon’s status becomes the biggest storyline of the night. Even if Colorado’s superstar suits up, he clearly will not be close to full strength after taking Shea Theodore’s shot directly off the knee. Valeri Nichushkin’s lower-body injury only compounds the concern offensively for Colorado.
The Avalanche also continue struggling physically against Vegas’ aggressive forecheck and heavy style of play. The Golden Knights have consistently won key puck battles throughout the series and continue forcing Colorado into mistakes under pressure.
For Vegas, the confidence level continues skyrocketing under John Tortorella. Since taking over late in the season, Tortorella has completely reshaped the team’s identity around defensive structure, toughness, and relentless pace.
Shea Theodore, William Karlsson, and the Vegas blue line have also done an outstanding job limiting Colorado’s transition opportunities after the opening period of Game 3.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights WHO IS THE PUBLIC BETTING? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | 45% | 55% | Golden Knights |
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Injury Reports
Colorado faces major concerns entering Game 4.
Nathan MacKinnon is dealing with a knee injury suffered in Game 3, while Valeri Nichushkin also exited Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury. Their statuses may not be fully known until close to puck drop.
Vegas appears relatively healthy entering the matchup and continues benefiting from strong depth throughout the lineup.
Betting Trends
Vegas has now won 18 of its last 23 games under John Tortorella and continues playing outstanding defensive hockey throughout the postseason.
Colorado has lost all three games in this series in regulation despite entering the playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winner.
The Golden Knights also continue thriving at home, where their physical style becomes even more difficult for opponents to handle.
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights Prediction
Colorado absolutely has the talent to force this series back to Denver, but this matchup increasingly feels like Vegas’ time.
The Golden Knights have been the tougher, deeper, and more composed team throughout the series, and now they face an Avalanche roster potentially missing or limiting multiple stars in an elimination game. Even if MacKinnon plays, it is difficult to imagine him operating anywhere near full capacity after Sunday’s injury.
Vegas also carries all the momentum after its Game 3 comeback. Teams rarely recover emotionally from blowing a three-goal lead in the conference finals, especially against a veteran group as disciplined and physical as the Golden Knights.
Expect Colorado to come out aggressively early, but Vegas’ depth, defensive structure, and home atmosphere should ultimately take control once again.
Final Score Prediction: Golden Knights 4, Avalanche 2