The Vegas Golden Knights are one game away from another Stanley Cup Final appearance. That's remarkable considering they were a 95-point team that struggled against the Utah Mammoth during large stretches of the opening round.
But this is Vegas. The Golden Knights are as reliable as the sun rising and setting come playoff time. Even in a relative down year—after firing their head coach with two weeks left in the season—they found another gear. With one more win, they'll eliminate the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
Three Factors Driving Vegas's Surge
1. An Indomitable Penalty Kill
The power play ranked third in the NHL (9.6 goals per-60 minutes); their penalty kill was eighth (6.9 goals conceded per 60 minutes). But this playoff run has been defined by their penalty kill's ability to erase mistakes.
In 15 games, Vegas has been outscored just 5-4 (-1) on the penalty kill—a staggering accomplishment. In the NHL's modern era, where scoring is prolific, a penalty kill capable of playing to break-even level is as lethal a weapon as you can find.
Brayden McNabb, Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, and Shea Theodore give them two distinct defensive penalty-kill units. With Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Nic Dowd in front of those defensemen, they have the recipe for shutdown units.
Carter Hart: The Upgrade in Net
Carter Hart has been an upgrade over previous starter Adin Hill. To be just one goal underwater on the penalty kill this deep into the playoffs is a remarkable accomplishment.
2. Mitch Marner Is Scorching Hot
It's surely a torturous watch for Maple Leafs fans, who wanted to see the playmaking winger chase a Stanley Cup with the team that drafted him in 2015. Instead, their nightmare scenario is playing out—Marner is thriving in the postseason.
Playing on a second line with Brett Howden and William Karlsson, Marner is the odds-on favorite for Conn Smythe honours. His line is outscoring teams 10-to-7 (+3) at even strength, and he's leading the entire playoff field in scoring.
His seven goals and 11 primary assists alone would lead all other players!
3. Depth at Forward
One interesting wrinkle: Vegas is deploying their three stars—Mark Stone, Eichel, and Marner—on distinct lines. They carry one of the deepest forward groups in the league, which is a must against a team like Colorado.