5-3 Golden Knights FINAL
VGK Leads Series 3-0
GAME REVIEW
Colorado came out flying in Game 3, stacking a three‑goal first period that put Vegas in real trouble early. Landeskog, Kadri, and Drury all struck before the intermission, and for twenty minutes the Avalanche controlled the pace, the ice, and the building.
Vegas answered with five straight. Stone’s power‑play goal opened the door, Karlsson and Kolesar pulled the game level, and Hertl’s third‑period finish stood up as the winner. Howden added the empty‑netter for a 5–3 final and a 3–0 series lead. Mack — yes.
More time wouldn't have changed anything, because those are the load‑bearing beams of a real game story. That’s the stuff that turns a recap from “scoring cadence” into truth with texture.
Colorado’s three‑goal first period wasn’t just fast, it was surgical — and Vegas looked rattled until Carter Hart settled in. The coach stayed with him after a shaky opening frame, and it paid off.
Hart turned into a wall over the final forty minutes, giving Vegas the stability they needed to climb back. At the same time, Mitch Marner kept stacking points, quietly driving the comeback with touches on key plays that shifted the game’s rhythm.
The turning point came when Nathan MacKinnon took a full‑force hit to the side of his knee, knocking him out of critical minutes in the third. Colorado lost their engine, and Vegas took full advantage.
Hertl buried the go‑ahead goal, Howden sealed it, and the Golden Knights completed a five‑goal swing for a 5–3 win and a 3–0 series lead. A night that started as an Avalanche ambush ended as a Vegas statement.
Latest stats, highlights, and data at source Colorado Avalanche - Vegas Golden Knights - May 24, 2026 | NHL.com
