Despite a 4-3 loss in Anaheim on Sunday that tied their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2, the Vegas Golden Knights remain composed and optimistic as they head back to Las Vegas for Game 5 against the Ducks on Tuesday. Their confidence is well-earned, having navigated similar pressure before.
The Pacific Division champions faced a comparable challenge in the first round against the Utah Mammoth. With the series knotted at 2-2, Vegas secured a dramatic 5-4 double-overtime win in Game 5 on a shorthanded goal from Brett Howden, eventually taking the series in six games. That victory improved Vegas to 5-2 all-time in Game 5s when a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2. The Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup in 2023, hold a perfect 5-0 series record when winning Game 5 in that scenario.
“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, added, “We’re feeling good about our game, and we feel like we have another step, too, so looking forward to (Tuesday) night.”
After a dominant 6-2 victory in Game 3, the Golden Knights were not content with merely splitting the two road games and reclaiming home-ice advantage.
“I think going in you’re not looking to split,” Howden said. “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.”
Tortorella was asked if he felt his team had performed well through the first four games.
“I think our game’s growing, yes, but it’s going to have to grow some more,” Tortorella said. “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.”
A bright spot for Vegas was Tomas Hertl breaking a 29-game goal drought that dated back to March 4. Hertl, who scored 24 goals and added 34 assists in the regular season, finally found the net.
“You know with goal-scorers, an empty-netter, 6-on-5, it doesn’t matter,” Tortorella said. “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.”
Meanwhile, Anaheim received a strong performance from Cutter Gauthier. The winger, who led the team in goals (41) and points (69) during the regular season, had been held scoreless in the series before dishing three assists in Game 4.
“In the first three games, I wasn’t getting enough shots,” Gauthier said. “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 went 8-for-16 on the power play in their first-round series win over Edmonton, ended an 0-for-11 drought against Vegas by scoring twice with the man advantage in Game 4. Beckett Sennecke scored a power-play goal to give Anaheim an early 1-0 lead, and Alex Killorn added a power-play tally in the second period to put the Ducks ahead for good, 3-2.
Anaheim also out-hit Vegas 34-27 in the physical contest and forced 14 giveaways from the Golden Knights.
“It’s playoff hockey, and it was a man’s game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said.
Anaheim forward Troy Terry added, “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.”
