The Vegas Golden Knights snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Friday night over the Colorado Avalanche. Jack Eichel sparked the comeback victory in Game 2 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Nevertheless, Ivan Barbashev also got here up big, thanks partly to Eichel’s effort.
Barbashev scored twice, including the game-winning goal, on Friday night. His two goals capped off a 3-1 win for Vegas in Game 2 against the Avalanche. Consequently, Vegas has a 2-0 series lead within the West Final. And so they are two wins away from the Stanley Cup Final.
“We just played easy,” Barbashev said of his team’s approach to the third period, via NHL.com. “I feel we have been a very good third-period team all season long. We have had lots of comebacks, and we just stuck with that.”
The Golden Knights are going to wish to maintain their focus within the upcoming games. But they definitely have history on their side. Just one team has won a Conference Finals or a Stanley Cup Semifinals in league history after dropping the primary two games at home. The 1945 Detroit Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins within the semifinal before losing within the Stanley Cup Final.
The Avalanche have the talent to make this a series, though. Especially in the event that they can get Cale Makar back on this series. He has not skated in either of the primary two games of this West Final.
In fact, injuries aren’t an excuse. The Golden Knights have been without captain Mark Stone for the last five games, for instance. The general point is that this series is way from over. And there are external aspects that might swing momentum either way.
The Golden Knights will look to take a 3-0 series lead on Sunday night in front of their home fans in Game 3.
The Vegas Golden Knights snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Friday night over the Colorado Avalanche. Jack Eichel sparked the comeback victory in Game 2 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Nevertheless, Ivan Barbashev also got here up big, thanks partly to Eichel’s effort. Barbashev scored twice, including the game-winning goal, on Friday night.