Golden Knights sweep Avalanche to reach Stanley Cup Final

The Colorado Avalanche have been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final after a 2-1 loss in Game 4 on Tuesday. The defeat caps a stunning collapse for the Presidents' Trophy winners, who entered the series as favorites but could not overcome a combination of injuries and a critical loss of momentum.

The Avalanche's season ended at T-Mobile Arena, unable to recover from a 3-0 series deficit. The team's struggles were compounded by health issues affecting key players. Star defenseman Cale Makar, who missed the first two games of the series with an upper-body injury, returned for Game 3 but was reportedly not at full capability. Forward Nathan MacKinnon also played through a lower-body injury sustained in Game 3, which limited his ice time in that contest.

Colorado's challenges extended beyond injuries. After building a 3-0 first-period lead in Game 3, the Avalanche surrendered five unanswered goals in a devastating 5-3 loss that put them on the brink of elimination. The team's offensive production stalled against Vegas goaltender Carter Hart, who limited them to six goals total in the three games. Meanwhile, the...