The Roster Takes Shape
In one sense, it’s surprising the Vegas Golden Knights are one game away from another Stanley Cup Final appearance. This is a 95-point team that was on the ropes against the Utah Mammoth during large stretches of the opening round. Yet this is Vegas—the Golden Knights are as reliable as the sun rising and setting come playoff time.
The success this franchise has found since the expansion draft a decade ago is without parallel. Even in a relative down year for the team—including firing their head coach with two weeks left in the season—Vegas has found another gear. With one more win, they will eliminate the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
An indomitable penalty kill. The sole reason Vegas survived the Pacific Division battle was through their special teams’ play. 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).
The Margins Are Thin
This playoff run has been defined by the penalty kill erasing just about every mistake through the first three rounds. In 15 games, Vegas has been outscored 5-4 on the penalty kill—a staggering accomplishment. In the NHL’s modern era, where scoring is prolific and power plays can single-handedly win a series, a penalty kill capable of playing to break-even level is as lethal a weapon as you can find.
Magic Mitch Marner. Marner is scorching hot. He’s a big piece of the penalty kill, his line is outscoring teams 10-to-7 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.
Vegas deploys their three stars—Mark Stone, Eichel and Marner—on distinct lines. The team carries one of the deepest forward groups in the league, a necessity against a team like Colorado or risk being skated out of the arena.
The Next Test Arrives
A major goaltending rebound. Carter Hart has been a sizable upgrade over Adin Hill in net. Hart is stopping just over 89 per cent of shots, which is right near league averages. But this Vegas team doesn’t need the reincarnation of Dominik Hasek or Martin Brodeur manning their net—they just cannot be sunk by horrific play.
Simply regressing their save percentage back towards league average has turned Vegas into a monster. Now we are talking about a loaded team with very few discernible holes on its roster. With one more victory, the Golden Knights will return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons.