{"id":1034,"date":"2026-05-21T10:42:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T10:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=1034"},"modified":"2026-05-21T10:42:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T10:42:52","slug":"an-unlikely-hero-breaks-through-as-the-golden-knights-beat-the-avalanche-4-2-in-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=1034","title":{"rendered":"An unlikely hero breaks through as the Golden Knights beat the Avalanche 4-2 in Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Dylan Coghlan, front left, is congratulated after scoring a goal by defenseman Shea Theodore, back left, and center Tomas Hertl during the second period in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

DENVER \u2014 A Western Conference Final loaded with offensive firepower was ignited by the unlikeliest of sparkplugs.<\/p>

Read more FIFA\u2019s big experiment may have made the World Cup too big for its own good<\/a><\/p>\n

Dylan Coghlan\u2019s wrist shot under Scott Wedgewood\u2019s legs ended a scoreless deadlock and helped the Vegas Golden Knights steal home ice from the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche with a 4-2 statement win Wednesday night at Ball Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I didn\u2019t know it went in until I looked at Shea (Theodore) and he was just smiling at me,\u201d Coghlan said.<\/p>\n

It was Coghlan\u2019s first career NHL playoff goal, his fist score in the league in nearly five years and just his seventh net-finder of his career. Adding to his big night, the 28-year-old defenseman made a terrific breakup of a 3-on-2 breakaway that kept the Avalanche scuffling to find the net themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, so happy for him,\u201d winning goalie Carter Hart said. \u201cHe came in in the Anaheim series. I thought he did a tremendous job then. Stepped up tonight huge. That was a huge first goal for us tonight and I couldn\u2019t be happier for the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vegas forward Pavel Doroleyev praised Coghlan\u2019s overall game, saying, \u201cIt\u2019s not just about his goal. He did a lot of things right, especially in D-zone, on breakouts.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, that goal …<\/p>\n

Coghlan hadn\u2019t scored since Dec. 17, 2021, in a game against the New York Islanders, and half of his six career goals came on a hat trick in a 4-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on March 10, 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an easy guy to pull for,\u201d Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said.<\/p>\n

Coghlan had 14 goals in 62 games this season for Henderson in the American Hockey League. He was scoreless in three regular-season games for Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you say Dylan Coghlan to me, I think of no fear,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cI think he\u2019s one of our best defensemen since he\u2019s been with us and in the lineup. … He\u2019s a bit unflappable.\u201d<\/p>

Read more Profanity is a hallmark of Trump\u2019s second term, a Post analysis finds<\/a><\/p>\n

The Golden Knights stole home ice from the top-seeded Avalanche, who had won eight of nine games in these playoffs before their dud in the Western Conference Final opener.<\/p>\n

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar<\/a> missed Game 1 with an upper-body injury. Makar left the ice holding his right arm following a collision late in Game 5 against Minnesota<\/a> last week but returned as Colorado won the game in overtime.<\/p>\n

Makar\u2019s absence proved a big blow for the Avalanche. This is the first time Makar has missed a playoff game for the Avalanche with an injury. The Norris Trophy finalist has four goals and an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time through the opening two rounds. Makar also is an integral part of Colorado\u2019s special teams, which surrendered a power play goal to Doroleyev in the second period.<\/p>\n

Colorado tried some different combinations without Makar. It led to some confusion, with Coghlan sneaking into the middle of the ice and lining a shot through the pads of Wedgewood to break a scoreless game in the second period.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a trickle-down effect to that,\u201d Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of not having Makar. \u201cBut he\u2019s not playing. We have find a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coghlan has bounced around over his career, spending his first two seasons with Vegas before stints with Carolina and Winnipeg. He returned to the Golden Knights last July in part, he said, because of the bonds he\u2019d formed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is probably the best I\u2019ve felt in my whole career,\u201d Coghlan said. \u201cWhoever it is I\u2019m playing with I\u2019m very comfortable out there with them. They make it pretty easy on me. We have some pretty world-class players.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Sports Writer Pat Graham and AP free-lancer Ashlyn Stapleton contributed to this report.<\/p>

Read more Trump\u2019s allies are already lining up to apply to his $1.8 billion fund<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NHL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/stanley-cup<\/a> and https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nhl<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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