Following Sunday’s 4-3 defeat in Anaheim that leveled their Western Conference semifinal matchup at two games apiece, the Vegas Golden Knights maintained their composure and confidence as they prepare for Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 showdown with the Ducks in Las Vegas.
The Pacific Division champions have solid reasons for their positive outlook. Vegas faced identical circumstances during their opening round against the Utah Mammoth, where they responded to a 2-2 series tie by capturing a thrilling 5-4 double-overtime victory in Game 5 on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal, ultimately claiming the series in six games.
That triumph contributed to Vegas’s impressive 5-2 all-time record in Game 5 contests when best-of-seven series are deadlocked 2-2. The 2023 Stanley Cup champions boast a flawless 5-0 series record when they emerge victorious in Game 5 under those circumstances.
“They’ve been through so much as a team,” Vegas coach John Tortorella said Monday. “Gone through all the processes, all the things you go through in a playoff series. So they’re experienced at it.”
Howden, who leads the team with seven playoff goals, expressed optimism about their prospects. “We’re feeling good about our game, and we feel like we have another step, too, so looking forward to (Tuesday) night,” he said.
After dominating Game 3 with a 6-2 victory, the Golden Knights weren’t content with merely earning a road split and reclaiming home-ice advantage.
“I think going in you’re not looking to split,” Howden explained. “Not satisfied with just getting the one win after winning the first game. We were really looking to win the next game, but that’s the way it went, and now we’ve got a best-of-three series and we’ve got home ice.”
When asked about his team’s performance through the first four games, Tortorella acknowledged room for improvement.
“I think our game’s growing, yes, but it’s going to have to grow some more,” Tortorella stated. “It’s not complicated. It’s big plays … guys stepping up at certain times. The stakes are high now when you’re getting to the short strokes of the series.”
Vegas received encouraging news from Sunday’s loss when Tomas Hertl ended a lengthy 29-game scoring slump that stretched back to March 4. Hertl, who recorded 24 goals and 34 assists during the regular season, finally found the back of the net.
“You know with goal-scorers, an empty-netter, 6-on-5, it doesn’t matter,” Tortorella observed. “Hopefully it releases him a little bit. He’s been close for quite a while. He bangs one in and hopefully that will help him as we move forward.”
On the Anaheim side, Cutter Gauthier delivered a breakthrough performance. The winger, who paced the team with 41 goals and 69 points in the regular season, had been scoreless in the Vegas series until contributing three assists in Game 4.
“In the first three games, I wasn’t getting enough shots,” Gauthier reflected. “Getting in the middle of the ice is always a big emphasis, trying to get in front of guys, get in front of the goalie and stir some things up. Fortunately, the guys were able to bury it when I made a couple passes.”
The Ducks, who converted 8-of-16 power-play opportunities in their first-round victory over Edmonton, broke an 0-for-11 slump against Vegas by scoring twice with the man advantage in Game 4. Beckett Sennecke netted a power-play goal for an early 1-0 Anaheim lead, while Alex Killorn added another power-play marker in the second period to give the Ducks a 3-2 advantage they never relinquished.
Anaheim also outmuscled Vegas with a 34-27 advantage in hits during the physical battle and forced 14 turnovers by the Golden Knights.
“It’s playoff hockey, and it was a man’s game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said simply.
Anaheim forward Troy Terry praised his team’s resilience. “It was probably the first time where we were really backs against the wall. No matter what the situation’s been, I’ve loved how we’ve responded,” Terry noted.
