(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

Tonight, the Golden Knights will face a team with an astounding +62 goal differential and a staggering .847 points percentage. Through 34 games, there don’t seem to be many flaws with the 2025-26 Colorado Avalanche. Colorado arrived in Las Vegas riding a six-game win streak and an 8-1-1 record in their last 10. It’s been smooth sailing for Colorado in the first half of the season, which includes a 4-2 victory at T-Mobile Arena two months ago.

COL & VGK vs. The West

COL vs Western Conference: 15-0-5
VGK vs Western Conference: 8-5-4
COL vs Central Division: 7-0-4
VGK vs Central Division: 3-2-1
COL vs Pacific Division: 8-0-1
VGK vs Pacific Division: 5-2-4

Despite their missing pieces, the Golden Knights season could be measured solely on tonight’s performance. There’s no way around it, to win a second Stanley Cup trophy, Vegas will have to get through Colorado. Or, at the very least, defeat the team that did the impossible and eliminated the Avalanche. There’s no doubt the Golden Knights’ decision makers will be doing a lot of assessing tonight.

This season, the Avalanche have surrendered just two losses in regulation. Both opponents were two Eastern Conference clubs in low-stakes matchups over a month apart. Outside of those two hiccups, the Avalanche have had their way with the league.

When it comes to common Western Conference opponents, the Golden Knights haven’t been as successful as the Avalanche have.

COL vs Western Contenders

vs ANA: 4-1 Win
vs DAL: 5-4 SO Loss
@ EDM: 9-1 Win
@LAK: 4-1 Win
@ MIN: 3-2 SO Loss
@ MIN: 5-1 Win
@ VGK: 4-2 Win

When the Avalanche face a potential Stanley Cup contender, they almost certainly win and are guaranteed to pick up a point. Unlike VGK, the Avs have beaten the best in the West five times in regulation by two or more goals. All while Vegas is still searching for its first victory against a true conference contender.

VGK vs Western Contenders

@ LAK: 6-5 OTL
vs. COL: 4-2 Loss
vs. ANA: 4-3 OTL
@ MIN: 3-2 OTL
@ ANA: 4-3 OTL
@ EDM: 4-3 Loss

Keep in mind there’s a chance these two meet in the opening round of the playoffs. Colorado is ahead of the pack in the Central, and Vegas is only five points above the playoff cut line.

There’s no better time for the Golden Knights to serve the Avalanche their first Western Conference regulation loss than tonight’s game. Any night Eichel is out is a massive challenge for the Golden Knights. Edging out Colorado without him and Shea Theodore would be a defining regular season moment.