3 Reasons Golden Knights Can Finish Mammoth – Hockey Writers – Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are marching into Round 2! After a six-game series victory over the Utah Mammoth, the Golden Knights are closer to their goal of winning the franchise’s second Stanley Cup.
As we put a bow on Round 1 and look ahead to Round 2, let’s take a look at the biggest reasons why the Golden Knights beat the Mammoths.
Carter Hart….Enough
Carter Hart may have the biggest story going into this series. Hart had only played in one playoff game before, with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2020. In addition, the Golden Knights faced inconsistent scoring during the regular season. If there’s one thing that can hinder a team in the playoffs, it’s scoring.
Hart wasn’t perfect in the series, but he was good enough. In Games 3-5, he gave up four goals per game, but also faced a high number of shots, especially in Game 5, when he stopped 38. He finished the series with a 2.72 goals-against average (GAA) and a .898 save percentage (SV%). Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but he was good.
Will the Golden Knights need more from Hart going forward? Yes, but Round 1 showed that he will compete every second of the game and will not be deterred against a strong offense. The grit he showed against Mammoth may be more valuable than the eye-popping numbers in this event.
The Depths Lighted Along with the Stars
To win in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a team needs its stars to shine on the big stage. In addition, the team needs some of its players to provide. The Golden Knights got both in Round 1.
Brett Howden is easily the best player of the series. If there was an MVP award for this series, it would be his. After scoring just 12 goals in the regular season, Howden scored four of them in the series, including two shorthanded goals, with the second coming in overtime in Game 5. Howden isn’t a superstar by any means, but he certainly rose to the occasion in Round 1. His four goals are tied for the team lead.
Other deep players on the roster contributed in big ways. Defenseman Shea Theodore scored two goals and recorded four points, including the game-winning overtime goal in a key Game 4 win. Forward Colton Sissons scored twice, including a big insurance goal in the third period of Game 6.
As far as the stars go, they were bright. Mitch Marner, in his first playoff series in Vegas, recorded two goals (both in Game 6) and five assists in the series. Jack Eichel had an impressive nine points, and Pavel Dorofeyev scored four goals, including a hat trick in Game 5.
It takes a total team effort to win in the playoffs. The Golden Knights got just that.
Dominance of Special Groups
This could be a big reason why the Golden Knights beat the Mammoth. The power play could have been better, scoring just four goals in the series. However, the penalty kill is where the Golden Knights took over.
Mammoth recently went 1/16 on the power play. They didn’t score on the man advantage after Game 3. In addition, the team’s penalty kill prevented the Mammoth from converting momentum in key moments. The Golden Knights killed off a four-minute power play early in the third period of Game 5. In Game 6, the penalty kill didn’t allow for any quality chances, which helped prevent the Mammoth from scoring in a game that was close until midway through the third period.
Yes, we cannot score short goals. Howden’s heroics will hold a sweet spot in the club’s history. If the Golden Knights go on to win the Stanley Cup, Howden’s shorthanded winner in Game 5 will go down as one of the greatest goals in team history.
Looking Forward to Round 2
The Golden Knights will play the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. The Ducks are coming off a six-game winning streak against the Edmonton Oilers, ending their two-year run at the top of the Western Conference. The Golden Knights were swept in the season series by the Ducks in the regular season, but still hold the all-time series against their respective rivals, 27-10-1.
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