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3 Avalanche bold predictions for West Final vs. Golden Knights
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- 3 Avalanche bold predictions for West Final vs. Golden Knights
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The Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights are squaring off in the Western Conference Final of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After losing just one game in the first two rounds, Colorado is looking to become the first Presidents’ Trophy winner to win the Stanley Cup since 2013. For them to get past Vegas, they will need these bold predictions to come true.
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The Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings and took down the Minnesota Wild in five games to start the postseason. The Golden Knights needed six games to dispose of both the Utah Mammoth and the Anaheim Ducks . While Colorado’s season to this point has been stellar, these Stanley Cup Playoffs have proven that anything can happen in seven games.
Will the Avalanche beat the Golden Knights and advance to the Stanley Cup Final?
Cale Makar leads the Avalanche in scoring
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Avalanche are a loaded team, with MVP candidate Nathan MacKinnon leading the forwards and Norris Trophy finalist Cale Makar on the back end . Makar has been a Norris finalist in six of his seven NHL seasons, a mark only matched by Bobby Orr. If he wins this year’s award, it will be his third, along with a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
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In both the regular season and the playoffs, Makar racks up awards because he racks up points. But this year has been different, as he only has five points through nine games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Against the Golden Knights, that will change. Makar will lead the Avalanche in points when the series is all said and done.
In his 2022 Conn Smythe run, Makar scored eight goals and added a ridiculous 21 assists to record 29 points in 20 games. Without that level of production, the Avalanche are still mowing down the competition each night. If Makar finds that level, this team will be terrifying to play against.
Scott Wedgewood cements himself as the starter
The Avalanche had two goalies split time this year between Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood . The two veterans provided Colorado with cheap, yet effective goaltending that allowed them to spend at the trade deadline. Wedgewood got the nod against Los Angeles and was outstanding, but he wobbled a bit in the Wild series, allowing three goals before getting pulled from Game 3, the lone Colorado loss.
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Blackwood manned the crease for the second half of Game 3 and all of Game 4, which the Avalanche won. But in Game 5, he allowed three goals in the first period, so Jared Bednar went back to Wedgewood. He stoned the Wild from there on out, allowing the Avalanche to come back and win the game.
The Avalanche should stick with Wedgewood for Game 1 against the Golden Knights, but Bednar has shown he has a quick trigger finger. That will be no problem, as the 33-year-old Wedgewood will stone the Knights early in the series and remain the goalie for the rest of the series.
The Avalanche make easy work of the Golden Knights
The Avalanche will beat the Golden Knights in five games, losing just their second game of the playoffs in the process. Vegas has great talent on its squad, including Mitch Marner , who has blossomed into an elite playoff performer. But with Makar and Wedgewood playing at the top of their games, Colorado will cruise.
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The Avalanche have been a Cup-or-bust club since their elite start to the season in October. They cruised into the playoffs with the best record in the league and will keep cruising into the Stanley Cup Final. They are heavy favorites in this series and should take home their second Western Conference Title in five years.
Related: Avalanche’s Cale Makar practice injury update an ominous sign for Game 1
Related: Why Avalanche’s Jared Bednar believes Stanley Cup is hardest trophy in sports to win
