Golden Knights beat Avalanche 5-3, lead series 3-0

The Vegas Golden Knights moved within one victory of a return to the Stanley Cup Final after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 5-3 on Sunday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. The win gave Vegas a commanding 3-0 series lead.

The game marked the return of Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, who had missed the previous five playoff games with a lower-body injury. Stone’s impact was immediate, as he scored a power-play goal just 19 seconds into the second period to cut an early Avalanche lead to 3-1. That goal sparked a dominant two-period performance from Vegas, which scored four unanswered goals to secure the victory.

Stone’s return also facilitated the use of a five-forward power-play unit, with forward Mitch Marner assuming the quarterback role at the top. The Golden Knights’ power play has been a consistent strength, converting at 25% in the playoffs, the highest rate among the remaining teams. Forward Pavel Dorofeyev noted the unit’s confidence, saying they are trying to do their best to help the team take advantage of those opportunities.

For the Avalanche, the status of star defenseman Cale Makar remained a significant storyline. Makar, who had missed the first...