ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Las Vegas Golden Knights’ remarkable streak of success continues as they’ve secured another trip to the Western Conference finals, marking their fifth appearance in the third round during just nine seasons in the NHL.
Las Vegas closed out the Anaheim Ducks with a commanding 5-1 victory in Game 6 of their second-round matchup Thursday evening, claiming their 14th playoff series win since joining the league in 2017 — the most of any NHL team during that period.
The franchise’s sustained excellence stems from more than just fortune. Their aggressive approach to winning has involved costly free agent signings and major player acquisitions, culminating in a surprising coaching switch this spring that has paid immediate dividends.
“Just proud of the guys,” commented defenseman Shea Theodore, who has been with the organization since its inception. “I think it comes right from (owner) Bill Foley up top. That’s the message going into every year, is to win Cups, and I think we’ve put ourselves in great positions. Guys put the work in.”
Following back-to-back six-game series wins against the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim, Las Vegas has compiled a 15-4-1 record since making the bold decision to dismiss Stanley Cup-winning coach Bruce Cassidy and bring in John Tortorella with only eight games remaining in the regular season.
“Torts has been a good change coming in, just getting us the right mindset going into each game, each playoff series,” Theodore explained. “I feel like we have the right tools going in and guys have been executing.”
The coaching change came after an 8-15-4 stretch that had the team struggling. The 67-year-old Tortorella’s arrival sparked an immediate turnaround, helping Vegas surge past both Anaheim and Edmonton to capture the Pacific Division title before navigating through the division’s relatively favorable playoff bracket.
“I think we were maybe doubting a little bit of ourselves about what we were trying to do out there, and sometimes that happens,” said Mitch Marner, who netted the opening goal in Thursday’s clincher after recording a hat trick in the same building during Game 3. “Torts came in and, I think, brought our swagger back to where it needed to be, and playing the way that we wanted to play. And obviously since that change, I’ve really liked our game as a team. I think we all have. We’re playing a fast-paced game. We’re doing all the little things right, and that’s what it takes.”
For Marner, who departed Toronto last summer amid fan criticism while the Maple Leafs continued their conference finals drought, his inaugural Vegas campaign has been “a roller coaster ride.” After a slow start by his standards, the veteran forward has found his groove at the perfect time.
Marner contributed a goal and assist in the series-clinching victory, bringing his postseason total to an NHL-leading 18 points. His playoff performance has silenced critics who questioned his big-game capabilities during his Toronto tenure.
“Individually wise, it feels great to be going on to the next round with this team,” Marner stated. “And the work now really just keeps getting harder, and we’re excited for it.”
The Golden Knights now face their toughest test yet against the Colorado Avalanche, who have dominated throughout most of the season. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have guided Colorado to eight victories in nine playoff contests against the conference’s second and third-seeded teams.
Despite facing long odds against what appears to be Colorado’s championship destiny, the Golden Knights carry the confidence that comes from nearly a decade of unprecedented success since entering the league.
“We’re playing a very high-talented team coming up here, so we’ve got to make sure we’re doing all those things right,” Marner noted. “And then when we get our opportunities, capitalize on them.”
