LIVE BLOG: Golden Knights celebrate Stanley Cup Final berth after sweeping Avalanche

The Vegas Golden Knights are off to the Stanley Cup Final after sweeping the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. But first, the Knights get to celebrate.

Petty good

The Knights’ X account doesn’t forget. After the win, it took the time to take aim at Connor McDavid for his comments from March labeling the Pacific Division race as “a bit of a pillow fight” and saying that the Edmonton Oilers were fortunate to play in a division where they weren’t losing ground.

What a time

Just a few historical improbabilities…

Torts’ retort

John Tortorella had been out of work in the NHL, but there he was Tuesday night doing a press conference (not guaranteed!) with Western Conference Champs hats on the table in front of him (who’d have thought it?).

While it wouldn’t have been his style to take a victory lap, Tortorella did offer some support for Colorado coach Jared Bednar, who has drawn criticism during the series and now after the Avalanche went from favorites to being swept.

Bednar, for his part, gave credit where credit was due.

Hear how it ended

The fans roared at T-Mobile Arena, which for the first time was the site of the Knights clinching a Stanley Cup Final berth. The Knights in 2018 did so in Winnipeg. In 2023, they did so in Dallas.

This time, they did so at home, and here’s the radio call as it ended.

Can’t touch this

Following superstition and tradition, the Knights did not touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl when presented with it after winning the Western Conference Final. They merely stood behind it as they posed for photos.

The Knights, after all, know there’s work to be done to achieve their ultimate goal of hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Knighty-knight

Mark Stone scored for a second straight game after returning in the series from injury, Cole Smith added an insurance goal in the third period, and Carter Hart carried a shutout up until the final minutes of a 2-1 series-clinching win on Tuesday.

The Knights advance to play the winner of the Eastern Conference Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.