Despite coaching the Vegas Golden Knights for just over six weeks, John Tortorella brings extensive experience as this marks his sixth NHL franchise and he approaches his 22nd anniversary of winning the Stanley Cup.
Even with all that background, he remains curious about a fundamental aspect of playoff competition.
“I’m not sure what’s better: experience or youth, when you have no clue what’s going on?” Tortorella said. “They don’t understand the pressures of it because they don’t know. Or the experience.”
Tortorella’s squad demonstrated the benefits of seasoned play, securing a 3-2 series advantage against the largely inexperienced Anaheim Ducks with an overtime victory Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, the younger Buffalo Sabres defeated the Canadiens in Montreal to level their best-of-seven matchup at 2-2.
Two additional opportunities await to examine Tortorella’s inquiry.
When/Where to Watch: Game 5, Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT (TNT, TruTV)
Series: Tied 2-2
Right when Buffalo appeared to be struggling, they netted the first goal within seven minutes of Game 4 and survived an evening filled with video reviews and penalty calls. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff expressed frustration with opposing players “going down easy” and hoped for additional embellishment penalties, though he praised his youthful roster’s response.
“We battled through all that,” Ruff said Wednesday. “We got to make sure we’re in there but at the same time not taking anything stupid and putting our team at a disadvantage. It’s a fine line right now, but I think there’s a way to juggle around it.”
The Canadiens experienced postseason action last year, falling to Washington in five first-round contests. Several players remain from 2021 (with Phillip Danault returning), when they made an unlikely journey to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to Tampa Bay.
Team captain Nick Suzuki, among those veterans, attributed their recent loss to unfortunate circumstances and appears prepared for Game 5.
“We knew we had to go to Buffalo anyway,” Suzuki said. “We’re a good road team. We’ve shown that all year, so we’ve go do it again and bring it back home.”
While some Sabres players have postseason experience, the franchise is participating for the first time since 2011 following the conclusion of the league’s longest playoff absence. The newcomers have performed among Buffalo’s top contributors and appear to embrace the experience.
“As a kid, this is what you dream of, playing playoff hockey,” said Josh Doan, who tops the team’s series scoring with six points. “There’s nothing you trade it in the world for, getting the opportunity to do this.”
When/Where to Watch: Game 6, Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDT (TNT, TruTV)
Series: Vegas leads 3-2
Tortorella hopes experience prevails since the Golden Knights possess abundant amounts. The team recognizes this advantage.
“We’re a pretty comfortable group in there, and there’s a lot of players in there who’ve been through it and had a lot of success and won,” Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson said. “We’re an older team, and it’s that feeling that no moment is too big.”
Vegas will play without top defensive pairing member Brayden McNabb, who received a suspension for his illegal check that injured Ducks center Ryan Poehling.
Despite losing Poehling, Anaheim possesses numerous experienced players, including championship winners Alex Killorn and John Carlson, along with players like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba who have advanced deep into playoffs. However, the Ducks’ foundation centers on youthful energy, quickness, and remaining unfazed by pressure.
“I’m pretty excited to see what we all got,” 23-year-old center Mason McTavish said. “It’s our first time with our backs against the wall. I’m excited for us to kind of show everybody what we got.”
Head coach Joel Quenneville, who earned three championship rings during his Chicago tenure, has sufficient experience that Tuesday’s game recalled a comparable Game 5 situation from 11 years earlier at Anaheim. During his Blackhawks days, they overcame this exact disadvantage while capturing their third title in six seasons.
“(We have) a lot of younger guys that they’ve been fine the whole playoffs and nothing seems to change their demeanor or their approach,” Quenneville said. “We’ll come back home and focus on the next game and know we’re right in the thick of things.”
Regarding the concept that young teams must experience defeat before achieving victory, Quenneville responded, “I’m not ready for that.”
