Favorites Colorado suffered a setback when they lost their first home game of the playoffs.
Visiting Vegas goaltender Carter Hart made 36 saves in the 4–2 victory, while four different goal scorers and assists from six others ensured Vegas could go home from the first semifinal game with a victory.
Swedish Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson was satisfied after the match:
Ball Arena in Denver is not an easy building to play in, so it's nice to win the first game, he told Expressen.
Colorado, without injured defenseman Cale Makar, had great trouble finding a way past Hart. However, Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin improved their numbers in the final period.
Landeskog said Vegas managed to take advantage of their chances.
"You definitely want to take advantage of home ice. But what's done is done and whether we win or lose, we'll regroup, see what we can learn and make sure we're ready for game two," he said.
In the other semi-final, Carolina and Montreal will meet.
