What if I told you that the Vegas Golden Knights' penalty kill was on another level in the postseason? Oh sure, that was true during the regular season when the unit was tied for sixth at 81.4%. But what if that unit improved that percentage to 96.3%?
Well, that's what's happenign with the Golden Knights during the postseason. They held the Utah Mammoth to one power play goal last round and haven't allowed an Anaheim Ducks power play goal this round. Talk about sheer dominance in one particular area.
Anaheim's power play, which went 8-for-16 in the first round, is now 0-for-11 in this series.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 9, 2026
Vegas has killed 26-of-27 in the playoffs (96.3 percent) and scored three shorthanded goals.
That's good enough for first place in the NHL during the postseason. The Golden Knights have taken superstars such as Clayton Keller and Leo Carlsson out of the equation, pushing them ahead in each series. You can attribute that to role players such as Nic Dowd (53.4% of faceoffs won) stepping up and taking the load off. Let's not forget that Jeremy Lauzon has been missing from action for this series.
But it goes much deeper than that. You can say that this was a collaborative team effort to get the unit afloat. Obviously, you need your role players like Dowd to win faceoffs and make successful exits. However, they're not the only ones keeping the ship afloat.
Why Carter Hart deserves credit for the Vegas Golden Knights having a near-unstoppable power play
This postseason, Carter Hart has been excellent for the Golden Knights. He has a GAA of 2.39 and a save percentage of .915, standing out in all but two games. But the stats are much deeper than merely a GAA and a save percentage.
You'd be surprised to learn that Hart has the league's best goals saved above expected in penalty kill situations at 2.7 (minimum of four games). He also leads the NHL in save percentage on unblocked shots at .988 on the penalty kill, making him a tough out for any opposing power play.
Make what you will about role players like Colton Sissons and Nic Dowd contributing in a major way. But it's also been the former Flyers goaltender stepping up. He's utilized his butterfly style perfectly, timing his movements and effortlessly tracking the puck.
Imagine what would've happened if Adin Hill was in net. It wouldn't have the same effect, whether it's the former Stanley Cup hero getting hurt or crumbling under the noise of the opposing fanbase. That's why you should send your regards to John Tortorella for the work that he's done.
If the Golden Knights want to continue their Stanley Cup run, they must ride the current penalty kill wave. Vegas is gaining momentum through this avenue, punishing their opponents by exits and successful faceoffs. Keep riding that momentum and things could lead to a Stanley Cup.
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