It might seem surprising that the Vegas Golden Knights are one game away from another Stanley Cup Final appearance. This is a 95-point team that struggled against Utah Mammoth during large stretches of the opening round.
Yet this is Vegas. The Golden Knights remain as reliable as sunrise come playoff time. Since the expansion draft a decade ago, their success is unmatched. Even in a relative down year—including firing their head coach with two weeks left in the season—the team has found another gear.
Vegas stays several steps ahead of the rest of the NHL. With one more win, they will eliminate the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
The Three Keys to Vegas's Western Conference Surge
1. Dominant Penalty Kill
Vegas survived the Pacific Division primarily through special teams' play. Their power play ranked third in the NHL (9.6 goals per 60 minutes), while their penalty kill finished eighth (6.9 goals conceded per 60 minutes).
Throughout this playoff run, the penalty kill has erased nearly every mistake. In 15 games, Vegas has been outscored just 5-4 on the penalty kill—a remarkable achievement. In today's NHL, where scoring is prolific, a penalty kill playing at break-even level is an incredibly lethal weapon.
Compared to other second-round teams, there's no comparison.
2. Carter Hart's Upgrade in Net
Hart has been a significant upgrade over previous starter Adin Hill. The defensive corps—Brayden McNabb, Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin, and Shea Theodore—gives coach John Tortorella two skilled penalty-kill units.
With defensive stalwarts like Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, and Nic Dowd protecting the net, Vegas has created shutdown units. Being just one goal underwater on the penalty kill this deep into the playoffs is remarkable—and a major reason the Golden Knights are positioned well heading into Game 4 of the Western Conference Final.
3. Marner's Breakout Season
Mitch Marner is playing at an elite level. For Maple Leafs fans who wanted to see the playmaking winger chase a Stanley Cup with the team that drafted him in 2015, this is their worst nightmare.
Marner is thriving on a second line with Brett Howden and William Karlsson. He's the odds-on favorite for the Conn Smythe Trophy. His line is outscoring opponents 10-7 (+3) at even strength, and he leads the entire playoff field in scoring.
His seven goals and 11 primary assists alone would lead all other players.
Line Deployment Strategy
Vegas deploys their three stars—Mark Stone, Eichel, and Marner—on separate lines. The Golden Knights carry one of the deepest forward groups in the league. Against Colorado, that's essential to avoid being outskated.
From a matchup perspective, Eichel's line goes head-to-head with Nathan MacKinnon's line. This strategic deployment has been crucial to Vegas's success.