Avalanche to play Golden Knights or Ducks in Western Conference Final

The Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2022 after defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime in Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday. They will face either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Anaheim Ducks, with Vegas leading that series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Thursday. The Avalanche, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, will hold home-ice advantage in the series, with Nathan MacKinnon leading the team with 13 playoff points.