Who would've thought that Brett Howden would be the Vegas Golden Knights' franchise leader in overtime goals in the playoffs? Sure, three might not be much in the grand scheme. But that is better than superstars like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone.
Howden showed his worth on a short-handed power play goal on Wednesday, scoring the game-winner in double overtime. The result? A 5-4 win that put the Golden Knights up against the Utah Mammoth, 3-2. Now, fans are feeling great about themselves as Veags prepares for the knockout blow.
BRETT HOWDEN SHORTHANDED GOAL IN 2OT TO TAKE GAME 5 😱
— ESPN (@espn) April 30, 2026
Vegas will head to Utah for Game 6 with a chance to advance 👀 pic.twitter.com/wSarjXbi6U
Obviously, fans can thank the former first round pick for providing two key short-handed goals in the series. He's emerged as an important forward with three goals in the series, making him vital for the Golden Knights' Stanley Cup aspirations. If there's one thing that a team needs in its Stanley Cup run, it's depth scoring.
More specifically, they need clutch depth scoring when called upon. That's what Howden provides for the Golden Knights in the playoffs, acting as a proverbial "three-point shooter." That will come in handy for Vegas heading down the stretch, especially when the competition picks up in the later rounds.
Why Brett Howden matters to the Vegas Golden Knights' operations
Last postseason, the Golden Knights had a massive issue with depth scoring. They couldn't get going in the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, mainly in the last two games. In turn, the Oilers finished off the Golden Knights in five games, paving the way for Bruce Cassidy to be fired the next season.
This postseason? The vibe has completely shifted with players like Howden and Ivan Barbashev carrying the load. Now, you're seeing lower-line players contribute in big ways, leading to the Golden Knights stealing victories. When you suddenly see Carter Hart exposed in net, who can you rely on?
Players like Howden, that's who. The Golden Knights are seeing such forwards break through, leading to marvelous comebacks and a team that breaks down a young Mammoth squad late in games. That's huge for various reasons, whether it's getting more odd-man rushes or generating more zone time.
As a result, the Golden Knights are on the cusp of advancing past the first round. That's big for a team that many people wrote off when Cassidy was around. Not that this is meant to be a dig at the Stanley Cup-winning head coach, mind you. But the results are coming from players like Howden.
If the Golden Knights get more clutch scoring from Howden, he'll become a literal walkoff winner for the team. That's huge for a squad that has searched for that home run-hitting player in late-game situations. That could even lead to—surprise!—another Stanley Cup party in Toshiba Plaza.
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