Having accumulated over 50 NHL playoff appearances, Jack Eichel believes the Vegas Golden Knights shouldn’t alter their strategy as they advance deeper into postseason play.
“We know we need to be better, and you want to continue to elevate your game both individually and as a team the further you go,” Eichel said. “That’s our goal.”
However, executing that plan becomes increasingly challenging. Elite-level hockey has reached the third round, featuring three of the five top championship contenders still competing in conference finals. Vegas will battle the league’s top team Colorado in the Western Conference, while the perfect Carolina squad awaits the victor of the seventh game between Buffalo and Montreal.
Game 1: Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Favorite: Colorado (2-5)
The Avalanche claimed the Presidents’ Trophy for their outstanding regular season performance and maintained their position at the top of NHL standings for 156 straight days starting November 1, marking the longest such streak in 40 years. They eliminated Los Angeles with a sweep in round one and defeated Minnesota in five contests, mounting a comeback to finish off the Wild in overtime after trailing 3-0 away from home.
At this stage, the competition intensifies significantly.
“I would expect Colorado’s stiffest challenge is going to come here in this next series because Vegas has been around the block,” former player and coach-turned-TNT analyst Ed Olczyk said. “They’ve got an experienced coach. They’re getting goaltending that they didn’t get for a lot of the regular season.”
With Carter Hart between the pipes and Mitch Marner providing leadership, the Golden Knights have reached the Western final for the fourth occasion in their nine-season history. This marks their first appearance under coach John Tortorella, who assumed control in late March and guided the team through a 7-0-1 stretch to close the regular season plus additional playoff achievements.
“We feel really good about ourselves,” Tortorella said. “In playoffs, it’s not just the X’s and O’s and all. It’s how you feel, and the confidence level you have. I think we’re in a good spot.”
Colorado’s counterpart Jared Bednar isn’t concerned about his team’s ability to perform under increased scrutiny. The Avalanche sit four years past their 2022 Stanley Cup championship, while Vegas captured the title in ’23.
“We have the exact same expectations as Vegas does,” Bednar said. “We have very similar experience, too: probably close to half the roster winning a Stanley Cup a couple years ago, no success since, and here we are facing each other. So, pressure on us is no different than the pressure on them.”
Regarding player health, Vegas captain Mark Stone has been sidelined since exiting Game 3 against Anaheim with an undisclosed injury. Avalanche standout Cale Makar has been managing an apparent right arm or shoulder injury while teammate defenseman Sam Malinski and forward Artturi Lehkonen were unavailable for portions of the Minnesota series.
Game 1: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (TNT, TruTV)
Favorite: Carolina (4-11)
The Hurricanes became the first franchise to complete clean sweeps of both opening rounds since the NHL adopted four best-of-seven series format in 1987. Their reward includes 11 complete days of rest before beginning the Eastern final.
“Obviously that’s not great,” Olczyk said. “That’s not ideal, but you’d rather have that than play back-to-back seven-game series and probably having guys being taped up to just get out there.”
Carolina captain Jordan Staal shares that perspective, dismissing concerns about potential rust and stating, “If anyone in the league was in a playoff series and they had the opportunity to win in four or seven, they would pick four.”
Another victory would match the 1985 Edmonton Oilers for the longest winning streak to begin playoffs.
With defending champion Florida eliminated after injuries disrupted the Panthers’ campaign and traditional powerhouses like Toronto and Tampa Bay knocked out early, conditions have aligned favorably for the Hurricanes to break through. They’ve advanced at least one round during each of Rod Brind’Amour’s eight seasons as coach but haven’t yet made the Stanley Cup Final.
“They’re perfect — no blemishes,” Olczyk said, highlighting Frederik Andersen’s goaltending and balanced offensive production as key factors. “I felt that it was them: It was Carolina and everybody else. And could they do it when they were the favorites and when the path was opened, could they take advantage? And they have taken full advantage.”
The eventual winner of the Sabres-Canadiens matchup will face a rapid transition from Monday night’s Game 7 to competing in Raleigh just 72 hours later. Montreal’s most recent third-round appearance came in 2021 during pandemic-adjusted divisional playoffs designed to address border restrictions, while Buffalo hasn’t advanced this far since back-to-back Eastern final appearances in 2006-07.
