Did you know that the Vegas Golden Knights have the fifth-best winning percentage since 2017? They have a winning percentage of .572, adding three Stanley Cup Final appearances and a Stanley Cup along the way. What's more, they've only missed the playoffs once.
Once! Mind you, that was the infamous 2021-22 campaign when everyone was injured. Guys like Mark Stone, Jack Eichel, and Max Pacioretty were shelved for games, leaving Vegas down a whole army. Aside from Pete DeBoer losing his touch, it's easy to see why the Golden Knights missed the playoffs that season.
WIth that success comes a long history of playoff successes. The aforementioned Stanley Cup Final appearances and the Stanley Cup only sweetens the pot, giving fans an embarrassment of riches. Oh, how sweet it is.
So, what better way to celebrate the team's rich playoff history than by looking at their most iconic games? These four stand out in the annals of the Golden Knights' lore, giving fans plenty of memories.
4.) Game 5 of the First Round: April 29, 2026
Now, I was originally going to put Game 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final on here. But there's a minor caveat: The Golden Knights blew a 4-0 lead in that game. It took a Shea Theodore bouncer off the boards to seal the deal, yes. But you blew a big lead in that game—and the series lead.
Instead, we'll go with the game in which Pavel Dorofeyev scored a hat trick. That included the game-tying goal with less than a minute to go, swinging the momentum in Vegas's favor. Brett Howden capped things off with a game-winning short-handed goal against the Utah Mammoth, leading Vegas to the Second Round.
3.) Game 5 of the Western Conference Final: May 20, 2018
The Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final was capped off by a 2-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 5. This was led by a premier performance by Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped 31 of 32 shots. The Golden Knights also got goals from Alex Tuch and Ryan Reaves, capping off a magical Western Conference run.
While the run didn't end like it should've, the Golden Knights established themselves as an NHL power with the run. Suddenly, people were put on notice with the team's uprising. Of course, this would lead to greater things down the road, including a finished story.
2.) Game 6 of the Second Round: May 14, 2023
The Vegas Golden Knights were stuck in a tightly contested series against their bitter rivals, the Edmonton Oilers. Tensions were boiling over, with Evander Kane blowing kisses and slashes being thrown around. The Golden Knights needed one dagger to put away their rivals and move towards the Stanley Cup.
This was the game as Vegas steamrolled Edmonton, 5-2. The game is well-known as the contest in which Jonathan Marchessault had a natural hat trick as he achieved the feat in the second period. The victory paved the way for a bigger win, promised by Bill Foley six years prior...
1.) Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final: June 13, 2023
C'mon, you knew that this would be at the top of the list. You gotta have the Stanley Cup clincher at the top of the list, right? After all, this is when Mark Stone had his hat trick that capped off an electric run.
This game will be remembered as the day of destiny for Golden Knights fans. It was a moment when an entire city united to root for a team. It solidified the Golden Knights as Las Vegas's team, making them the go-to brand for everything related to Sin City sports.
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