Well, ladies and gentlemen, the Vegas Golden Knights are nearing that place again. They're inching closer to another Western Conference Final after defeating the Anaheim Ducks in overtime on Tuesday, 3-2. Send your regards to Pavel Dorofeyev for turning it up at the right time because he came through in a clutch (banged-up knee and all).
The Ducks are on the ropes and reeling after the devastating loss, akin to what the Utah Mammoth experienced before being blown out in Game 6. But will it be similar to the situation that the Golden Knights capitalized on last round? Or will the Ducks actually put up a fight?
Well, that's the thing. The Golden Knights will be missing Brayden McNabb for this game. Even if it was a questionable call on a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Ryan Poehling, Vegas won't have its best defensive defenseman on the ice. That's not even mentioning Mark Stone, whose health is in serious jeopardy for the series.
So, let's create a series-closing plan that the Golden Knights can use to their advantage. That way, Vegas can rest its weary bones for a terrifying matchup against the Colorado Avalanche. Let's break down Game 6 in the Happiest Place on Earth, shall we?
Carter Hart can't crack under the pressure in Game 6
Game 5 was a great game for Carter Hart, for he stopped 34 of 36 shots. That alone was a big reason why the Golden Knights stole Game 5 and took a 3-2 lead. He made countless great saves, using his butterfly style to his advantage for the win.
That must happen again for the Golden Knights if they wish to go to the Western Conference Final. Hart must play pucks down low and act quickly when they go at his ears. If that's the case, life will be much easier for Vegas in Game 6, especially without Brayden McNabb.
The Golden Knights might have even more key pieces out for Thursday's game, leaving them handicapped. That means the goaltender must pull his weight and play to his strengths. If that happens, Vegas will head to the Conference Final for the first time since 2023.
Set the tempo and don't lose composure
Game 4 saw the Vegas Golden Knights play in a competitive game against the Anaheim Ducks. They went blow-for-blow with the Ducks, despite missing Mark Stone. Everything was going well for the Golden Knights until the third period came around and everything fell apart.
That consisted of a north-to-south offensive blitz that saw Anaheim abuse its speed. In turn, the Ducks scored two key goals and tied the series, 2-2. Game 5 was nearly like that before Dorofeyev put those worries to rest with a high-danger goal.
Therefore, the premise is simple. Keep your composure and don't get too many penalties. Vegas has 42 penalties during the Stanley Cup playoffs, which isn't as big a problem because of the penalty kill's effectiveness (87.9% this postseason, fifth in the NHL). But remember that the unit has allowed three power play goals by the Ducks in the last two games, making this even more important.
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