Schedule for Colorado Avalanche's Western Conference final games vs. Golden Knights released

The NHL announced on Thursday that the Colorado Avalanche will be playing their first game of the Western Conference finals next Wednesday. They also released the dates for all of the other games in the series and all of the times, except for Game 4.

Colorado's third-round playoff opponent will be the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas defeated the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night.

Colorado was 2-0-1 against the Golden Knights in the regular season.

The Avalanche advanced to the Western Conference final on Wednesday night for the eighth time since relocating to Denver, courtesy of a Brett Kulak goal in a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5. It's just the second time in the last nine playoff appearances the Avalanche have made it past the second round. On the other occasion, in 2022, the team went on to capture the Stanley Cup championship.

The Avs led the NHL most of the regular season in capturing their fourth Presidents' Trophy, which goes to the team with the best record.

Game 1 of the Western Conference final will take place at Ball Arena in Denver on May 20. It's scheduled to start at 6 p.m. The full schedule lies below:

(all times Mountain Time)

Game 1: Wednesday, May 20, 6 p.m. 
Game 2: Friday, May 22, 6 p.m.
Game 3: Sunday, May 24, 6 p.m.
Game 4: Tuesday, May 26, Time TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): Thursday, May 28, 6 p.m.
Game 6 (if necessary): Saturday, May 30, 6 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, June 1, 6 p.m

All games except Game 6 will be broadcast on ESPN. ABC will broadcast Game 6 if it is necessary.

Colorado has a 3-4 record in the conference finals since arriving in town before the 1995-96 season. All three times the team has advanced, though, a banner has followed — 1996, 2001 and 2022.