The Vegas Golden Knights are in a dogfight during the Stanley Cup playoffs. They're battling the Edmonton Oilers in a tense second-round matchup, facing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Currently, they're down in the series, 1-0. However, they're not the only Nevada team in a big battle.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are also battling for their playoff lives. Currently, they're down 2-0 to the Kansas City Mavericks in the Mountain Division Finals. The Mavericks are the ECHL affiliate of the Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL) and Seattle Kraken (NHL). Talk about an expansion team party, eh?
If fans remember, the Golden Knights have a... particular theme. You see, dear reader, the Golden Knights made the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. Incredible story, right?
Then, the Henderson Silver Knights make the most of their first season in Nevada and make the Calder Cup Final in 2020-21. After years of playing in San Antonio as the Rampage and in Adirondack as the Red Wings, they got near the mountain top. They lost to the Bakersfield Condors in the championship round, 2-1.
Can the Tahoe Knight Monsters make the Kelly Cup Final?
Therefore, the Knight Monsters must make the Kelly Cup Final. It's supposed to work as the "rule of three," where the aesthetics and theme line up perfectly. However, the Mavericks aren't having any of it. After all, they won the Mountain Division title this season with 103 points. Not only was that the most in the division, but that was the most in the Western Conference.
Still, don't discount the Knight Monsters from continuing the trend. Jett Jones (five goals and three assists) and Logan Nelson (three goals and five assists) have been two of the better players for Tahoe during the Kelly Cup playoffs. Add a dash of Simon Pinard (four goals and three assists) and Sloan Stanick (one goal and six assists) and this team can make it happen.
Of course, Thursday will be a pivotal night of hockey for both the big brother and little brother. The Knight Monsters don't want to go down by a 3-0 deficit by any means. The same goes for the Golden Knights and being down 2-0 to the Edmonton Oilers. That would mean the end of the theme and ruin so many people's OCD.
Who knows? Maybe the Golden Knights can learn a thing or two about resiliency from their little brothers. Everyone loves a good comeback story, after all. Maybe the Golden Knights can send McDavid and Draisaitl back to Edmonton in a 1-1 tie.