It's hard to believe that the Vegas Golden Knights are making the Stanley Cup playoffs after having arguably the worst season ever. After thinking this was the best that it would get, it seems that the tides are turning. A new head coach is leading the charge and the team suddenly has good Stanley Cup chances.
Yeah, I know it's hard to believe. Yet, here we are.
After taking care of the Colorado Avalanche in overtime on Saturday, the Golden Knights are going to their eighth straight Stanley Cup playoffs in nine seasons. That's the work of a consistent organization that makes calculated moves to win.
Of course, it isn't just the front office that has created this incredible miracle. We're also talking about superstar players who lead the charge. That includes Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner, making the team 100 times better.
But we must also look at how the team has responded and improved. We're talking about changes, additions, and gifts here that made the Golden Knights playoff mainstays once again. These three factors come to mind when evaluating the 2025-26 Golden Knights and how they got yet another playoff berth.
1.) Special teams
Entering Monday's matchup against the Winnipeg Jets, the Vegas Golden Knights were tied for the league's fifth-best power play (24.7%). That part isn't surprising considering how Vegas has thrived with names like Tomas Hertl (13 goals and 12 assists on the power play) and Pavel Dorofeyev (19 goals and 10 assists on the power play).
However, the penalty kill has also been excellent, clocking in as the league's eighth-best unit (81.4%). Part of that has been the additions of Colton Sissons and Nic Dowd, who've done excellent work in winning faceoffs and making successful exits. If there's one thing that Vegas can lean heavily on during the postseason, it's both units chugging along.
2.) John Tortorella
Look, I know that plenty of Golden Knights fans (myself included) were skeptical of John Tortorella coming in to replace Bruce Cassidy. How could a hot-headed head coach (who's actually worse than Cassidy) succeed in Las Vegas?
Well, the players have responded and are playing to their potential. We're talking about a 5-0-1 record and a .922 save percentage since Tortorella came along. The team is playing with more swagger and is attacking more viciously. Perhaps it was a mindset thing, after all.
3.) The April schedule lightened up
Yes, this might seem like an excuse from the haters and all that stuff. However, the Golden Knights have feasted on lower-level competition such as the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames. Imagine how the conversation would've been if the Golden Knights lost any of those games.
Heck, Vegas defeated playoff teams such as the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche. Those games alone should solidify the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup conversation, especially with the team returning to full health. Can they carry that momentum over to the postseason? Stay tuned.