The Vegas Golden Knights are headed back to a familiar place, and John Tortorella believes they are arriving there with the right kind of confidence.
After closing out Anaheim in Game 6, the Golden Knights returned to practice Saturday at City National Arena with a Western Conference Final matchup against Colorado waiting next week. Tortorella said Vegas’ swagger began coming back late in the regular season and has continued to build through two playoff rounds.
“I thought as we finished up the regular season, having some success as we went on a little bit of a run there, that always helps, right?” Tortorella said. “Feeling good about yourself and your confidence.”
That confidence now meets a Colorado team built on speed, skill and offense from the back end. It also comes with Vegas continuing to add to its own postseason history. The Golden Knights are now the fourth team in the NHL’s modern era, since 1944, to reach the final four five times within its first 10 seasons, joining the Islanders, Oilers and Flyers.
Vegas has made deep playoff runs feel almost routine for a franchise that still has not completed its first decade.
Golden Knights carrying confidence into Colorado series
Tortorella said the Golden Knights have improved as each series has gone on, a trait that showed up against both Utah and Anaheim. He pointed less to tactical changes and more to the team’s ability to stay steady.
“I think they’re flatline,” Tortorella said. “They don’t get too excited when things are going really well, and they certainly don’t lose themselves when things struggle.”
That will matter against Colorado, a team that can turn mistakes into rush chances quickly. Tortorella said the Avalanche’s defensemen joining the attack is not unique in today’s NHL, but Colorado does it well enough to demand attention.
“We know it’s a really good team,” Tortorella said. “We know they create a lot of offense off their back end. We’re going to prepare just like we always prepare.”
Brayden McNabb gave a similar answer from the dressing room. He called Colorado a “great team” with skill and speed, but said Vegas has seen this kind of challenge before.
“They’re going to be involved,” McNabb said of Colorado’s defensemen. “We have to make sure we finish our checks and stay above them.”
Jack Eichel kept it even simpler.
“Got to get above them,” Eichel said. “You can’t let them beat you up the ice after trying to forecheck.”
Howden gives Vegas a special-teams weapon
Special teams could become one of the major swing points in the series, especially with Brett Howden giving Vegas a dangerous shorthanded threat.
Howden enters the Colorado series tied for the NHL single-postseason record with three shorthanded goals, joining a group that includes Wayne Gretzky. His shorthanded production has already changed games for Vegas, including his double-overtime winner against Utah in the first round.
Tortorella said special teams become one of the areas teams study most closely during a playoff series.
“When you get into playoffs, the special teams are important,” Tortorella said. “It’s one of the areas in a series that you do a lot of concentration on, on the other team, how they kill, how their power play plays.”
That could give Vegas an edge if Colorado’s penalty kill continues to give up chances. Tortorella said the five-on-five game often becomes more instinctive, but special teams allow teams to zero in on specific habits.
“I’m sure they’ll be ready,” Tortorella said. “I’m sure both of their special teams will be ready. We’re going to try to take care of ours and be the best we can be.”
McNabb moves past suspension
McNabb was back with the team after missing Game 6 because of the NHL’s ruling on his hit on Anaheim’s Ryan Poehling. Tortorella declined to go beyond the team’s statement, saying the organization had no further comment.
McNabb said he did not receive an explanation from the officials at the time of the hit and accepted the league’s process.
“Player Safety, they have a job to do, so you respect whatever they say,” McNabb said. “I just hope Ryan’s okay. I hope he heals up quickly. That’s the main thing.”
Watching Game 6 from outside the lineup was not easy for McNabb, especially with the Golden Knights trying to close out the series without him. He said the nerves were worse from that view, but he was proud of the way Vegas responded.
“It sucks watching,” McNabb said. “It sucks being out. But the guys played great. It was very nervous watching, but the boys played great and finished it out.”
McNabb said Mitch Marner’s early goal helped set the tone, and the Golden Knights followed it with one of their most complete efforts of the playoffs.
“The team itself played unreal,” McNabb said. “Pretty much a full 60 minutes. It was great to see, and I was super pumped about the way they performed and how we were able to move on.”
Hart continues to grow in net
Tortorella also pointed to Carter Hart’s mental growth as one of the important developments in Vegas’ playoff run.
Hart has had to respond to difficult moments in both series, and Tortorella said the way he has handled those moments matters as much as the saves themselves.
“The play itself speaks for itself, but I think his preparation, how he’s handled a couple of situations he’s gone through in both series where he may have struggled in a game and then bounces right back, to me, that’s here,” Tortorella said, pointing to the mental side of the position.
Tortorella said he has been around Hart long enough to know how seriously he takes his role.
“I think he really cares,” Tortorella said. “That’s the bottom line with Carter. He cares about how he plays. He knows how important that position is for our team, and I think he’s gotten stronger mentally.”
Depth remains part of the story
Vegas has also gotten important minutes from Dylan Coghlan, who has earned praise inside the locker room. McNabb and Noah Hanifin both spoke highly of Coghlan after practice, and Tortorella said that kind of support from teammates matters more than anything coaches can say.
“That’s the most important thing, his teammates,” Tortorella said. “The most important place where they gain their respect is in the locker room.”
Tortorella said Coghlan has looked comfortable under playoff pressure and has not played like someone worried about making mistakes.
“I don’t think he’s nervous about anything,” Tortorella said. “He’s not afraid to step up and gap. He’s not afraid to surf. He makes plays with pucks. He just doesn’t throw them away.”
The Golden Knights also gave William Karlsson a maintenance day Saturday. Tortorella said there was no concern there, noting Vegas does not open the series until Wednesday. He had no update on Mark Stone or Jeremy Lauzon.
For Eichel, the next step is about keeping the same approach while continuing to raise the level.
“I don’t really think a whole lot changes,” Eichel said. “Obviously, we know we need to be better, and you want to continue to elevate your game, both individually and as a team, the further you go. That’s our goal.”
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
