Heading into Saturday's game, the mood was glum. Nobody believed in the Vegas Golden Knights. They were down to the Minnesota Wild, 2-1, before Game 4. An overwhelming neutral zone forecheck and a blistering top line had the Golden Knights on the ropes.
But a funny thing happened in overtime in Game 4. Killing off a holding penalty from Nicolas Roy led to a momentum swing and an Ivan Barbashev goal. Sure, it wasn't the prettiest goal. Still, a win's a win. The series is tied, 2-2.
Then Tuesday had the same vibe. Minnesota ties the game thanks to--who else?--Matt Boldy. The Wild are hanging in there and have the lead thanks to Ryan Hartman. But video coach Dave Rogowski saved the day by catching an offside incident happening beforehand.
"It was a great pick up by him, and it saved our ass."Bruce Cassidy on Dave Rogowski
Golden Knights fans, send your "thank you" cards to Rogowski for the incredible gift. That's because it led to Brett Howden scoring the game-winner. Again, it wasn't the prettiest win. But you got a 3-2 series lead.
That's been the motif throughout the series. The Golden Knights have been backed into a corner for the majority of the series. Boldy (five goals and two assists) and Kirill Kaprizov (five goals and four assists) have jumped around Vegas throughout the series. But you're up with a 3-2 lead.
This series has similar vibes to the 2023 Western Conference Final for the Golden Knights
In 2023, the Vegas Golden Knights were deadlocked in a tight Game 1 with the Dallas Stars. It was 3-3 heading into overtime. The Golden Knights needed a hero to uplift the team. Who answered the call? You guessed it: Brett Howden.
Game 2 had the exact same scenario. The Stars and Golden Knights are tied 2-2 heading into overtime. Vegas desperately needed a hero. In comes Chandler Stephenson, who redeemed himself after two bad penalties in the first two periods (slashing in the first period and cross-checking in the second). The rest, as Las Vegas knows well, is history.
Notice a theme? Good teams find ways to win. They might have annoying adversaries to deal with during a playoff series. However, the Golden Knights found a way to overcome their old head coach, Pete DeBoer, that season. If Vegas doesn't win both overtime games, it's DeBoer who's celebrating with the Stanley Cup (possibly).
Such adversity can build momentum for a team during the Stanley Cup run
That lesson applies here as well. If the Minnesota Wild get their hands on a goal in both overtimes, they move on to the second round. Heck, if they win in Game 4 and Dave Rogowski doesn't exist, they advance in the same way.
In fact, this should've been Minnesota's series to win with Kaprizov and Boldy alone. They've dominated in the battle of top lines during the series. It took Mark Stone and Jack Eichel until Game 5 to find their stride, after all.
However, it goes back to a trusty quip. Good teams always find ways to win, regardless of the circumstances. Bruce Cassidy's group knows this and has overcome insurmountable obstacles to get a 3-2 lead. That's what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, after all.
Now? The Golden Knights have the perfect opportunity to end the series on Thursday. With an indomitable will to win and a strong veteran group, they don't have to see this forechecking team until next season.
Who knows? They could run into Calvin Pickard, aka a noteworthy piece of Golden Knights trivia. They could also run into the Los Angeles Kings, a familiar adversary who could be as problematic. But as it stands, the mood is swell.