The scores and results were identical. Each were 5-1 victories and as commanding as that suggests. Each were close-out games. Each advanced the Vegas Golden Knights to the next round of these Stanley Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n
Each came in Game 6 of a best-of-seven series.<\/p>\n
The Knights for the most part over time have had this way about them as a series progresses. They tend to get better. Not always. There have been hiccups along the way.<\/p>\n
But they have won six straight Games 6s, including ones against Utah<\/a> and Anaheim <\/a>in this current postseason. Wins that have now placed them opposite Colorado in the Western Conference final<\/a>, which begins on Wednesday in Denver.<\/p>\n More than anything, the Knights stay within themselves<\/a>. John Tortorella is a coach who believes his team is flatlined, never too excited when things are going really well and never losing itself in times of struggle.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth the (Utah and Anaheim) series, we\u2019ve had some ups and downs, some peaks and valleys,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cI think that\u2019s one of the biggest strengths of our team \u2014 handling that. It\u2019s why you improve in a seven-game series. You just stay away from it.\u201d<\/p>\n Chance to breathe<\/p>\n Experience helps. A veteran room. Emotion is a big part of sports \u2014 even bigger when you get this far in a playoff tournament \u2014 but handling it the correct way often means the difference between playing on or going home.<\/p>\n Take, for instance, Game 6 at Anaheim.<\/p>\n The Knights never gave the Ducks a chance to breathe. It was 3-0 after one period. It might not have been totally over, but you could already see the finish line.<\/p>\n \u201cI really liked the way we came out in the sense we weren\u2019t waiting for something to happen,\u201d forward Brett Howden said. \u201cWe came out and initiated play. We were ready to go these last few Game 6s.<\/p>\n \u201cI think us having that mentality, that mindset to get the job done, goes to show the type of guys and leadership we have in this locker room. Just being ready to play.\u201d<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a better example of a player who has stepped up when advancing was on the line than goalie Carter Hart. He struggled some early in both series, but was nails when it counted most.<\/p>\n In his past seven games, Hart has a save percentage of .918 and a goals-against average of 2.37.<\/p>\n Nothing better than a guy who is flatlined in net.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, with him, it\u2019s his mental growth,\u201d Tortorella said. \u201cHis play speaks for itself. I think his preparation and how he has handled a couple situations he has gone through in both series, bouncing right back \u2014 to me that\u2019s (mental). I\u2019ve been fortunate to have him for a few years. I think he really cares.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the bottom line with Carter. He cares how he plays and knows how important that position is for our team and I think he has gotten stronger mentally.\u201d<\/p>\n Knights forward Mitch Marner talked about it after Game 6 in Anaheim. How under Tortorella, who replaced the fired Bruce Cassidy on March 29, the Knights got their swagger back.<\/p>\n How that, as much as anything, has led to playoff success thus far.<\/p>\n The coach points to how the team finished its regular season, going 7-0-1 down the stretch, as a reason for such renewed confidence. That it made the Knights feel good about themselves, which is significant in the playoffs.<\/p>\n That it\u2019s not just about X\u2019s and O\u2019s at this point.<\/p>\n For this, the Knights are in a good spot.<\/p>\n You can see it in their play. In these past few Game 6s. The relentless nature of their attack.<\/p>\n \u2018Its own task\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t speak for other teams,\u201d Howden said. \u201cMaybe sometimes they believe they have a cushion because they\u2019re ahead a game in (a series). We don\u2019t go into things thinking like that. We go into each game trying to get the job done. Take it one game at a time. Each has its own task.\u201d<\/p>\n It hasn\u2019t always been this way. Not in every series over nine seasons. But the Knights have won 14 of them since their inception along with 70 playoff games \u2013 the most of any franchise during that time.<\/p>\n They most often get better as things roll along.<\/p>\n Now, comes the ultimate challenge: Can they do so against the Avalanche? It would be fun if it gets to a Game 6.<\/p>\n \u201cI think a lot of our guys who have a lot of playoff experience know how important those games are,\u201d defenseman Noah Hanifin said. \u201cThose games are about being prepared and building as the series goes on. It has been our best game of the series (these playoffs). That\u2019s a good trend. Making sure for those games we\u2019re dialed in.\u201d<\/p>\n Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com.<\/a> Follow @edgraney<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The scores and results were identical. Each were 5-1 victories and as commanding as that suggests. 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