Avalanche defeat Oilers 8-6 to take early lead in Western Conference final

NHL playoffs live updates: Avalanche defeat Oilers 8-6 to take early lead in Western Conference final

In a star-studded Western Conference matchup, the Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers are battling for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

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It was the first time the two teams had met in the knockout stages since 1998, with the Oilers completing a comeback from 31 losses to win their first game in seven.

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If Colorado wants to avoid a repeat of the heartbreak, the Avs will need to find a way out of Edmonton's seemingly unstoppable star ranks of Connor McDavid,

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Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane. This trio combined to take 35 points against Calgary in the second round.

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Defending the Hart Trophy winner McDavid scored the winning goal in the Oilers Game 5 horror game to send Edmonton into the Western Finals.

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Avalanche will rely on their own star power in Nathan MacKinnon and the solid depth of the team, with second-tier star Nazem Kadri.

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Colorado has beaten Edmonton in two of the team's three regular games and will have the home advantage in this series.

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