The Vegas Golden Knights got a brand new outlook on their first-round matchup with the Minnesota Wild. Ivan Barbashev saved the day with an overtime winner that wasn't the prettiest shot. The result? A 4-3 road win and a tied series heading to Las Vegas.
While the win was a breath of fresh air, the series isn't over yet. You see, dear reader, there are two more wins to grab. There's also an obnoxiously good Wild forecheck that stands in the way. They'll suffocate the defensive zone and neutral zone, making life hard for the Golden Knights.
What does a team do when they have such obstacles in the way? Sit back and cry? Heck no! You go and win Game 5! That means pulling out all the stops and ensuring you have a decisive victory on Tuesday. That's what Golden Knights fans and Las Vegas want to see, after all.
But let's shift our attention to Game 5s from an all-time basis, shall we? How has Vegas fared from a historical standpoint? Have they thrived under the pressure, or has the pressure gotten to them? What about when they clinched the Stanley Cup? Let's take a time machine back and see how the Vegas Golden Knights have fared all-time in pivotal Game 5s.
How the Vegas Golden Knights done all-time in Game 5s
Overall, Game 5 hasn't been the kindest to the Golden Knights. They've had their problems with turning the series over in their favor or sealing the deal. Of course, there are some exceptions to the rule: The Stanley Cup-clinching game was a Game 5, resulting in a 9-3 rout for history.
The Golden Knights have an all-time record of 7-8 in Game 5s heading into Tuesday's match-up against the Minnesota Wild. That's not the most promising sign for a team looking to move past a pesky Wild team in the first round. However, Vegas is 3-2 in their past five Game 5s, which does have some promise.
Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
5/4/2018 | San Jose Sharks | 5-3, VGK |
5/20/2018 | Winnipeg Jets | 2-1, VGK |
6/7/2018 | Washington Capitals | 4-3, WSH (WSH clinches Stanley Cup) |
4/18/2019 | San Jose Sharks | 5-2, SJ |
8/18/2020 | Chicago Blackhawks | 4-3, VGK |
9/1/2020 | Vancouver Canucks | 2-1, VAN |
9/14/2020 | Dallas Stars | 3-2, DAL |
5/24/2021 | Minnesota Wild | 4-2, MIN |
6/8/2021 | Colorado Avalanche | 3-2, VGK |
6/22/2021 | Montreal Canadiens | 4-1, MTL |
4/27/2023 | Winnipeg Jets | 4-1, VGK |
5/12/2023 | Edmonton Oilers | 4-3, VGK |
5/27/2023 | Dallas Stars | 4-2, DAL |
6/13/2023 | Florida Panthers | 9-3, VGK (VGK clinches Stanley Cup) |
5/1/2024 | Dallas Stars | 3-2, DAL |
While the record might be below .500, one thing stands out. The Golden Knights faced the Dallas Stars three times in Game 5s, only to lose all three contests. Vegas also played Minnesota in 2021, losing a chance to close out the series.
They lost that game, 4-2, behind a strong performance from Cam Talbot. Talbot stopped 38 of 40 shots in the contest, enduring an endless barrage of shots. Similar to Game 2 of the current series, the Wild scored three first-period goals en route to their win.
Will history be kind to the home team on Tuesday? Who knows? One thing's for certain: Vegas must rewrite the history books if it wants to win another Stanley Cup. Otherwise, there's a reservation at Las Vegas Country Club waiting for the gang.