When the Vegas Golden Knights needed a spark late in the regular season, they turned to a familiar face behind the bench—and the gamble is already paying off in spectacular fashion.

Former New York Rangers coach John Tortorella has the Golden Knights rolling after a convincing 5-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Friday night, clinching their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series in six games. For Tortorella, this latest playoff run is adding another memorable chapter to a coaching career that spans 24 seasons and counting.

This isn't just any series win for the 67-year-old bench boss. Tortorella's resume already includes a Stanley Cup championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, when they outlasted the Calgary Flames in a thrilling seven-game Final. But perhaps his most stunning playoff achievement came in 2019, when his Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off one of the greatest upsets in NHL history.

That season, Columbus squeaked into the playoffs with just 98 points—the lowest total in the Eastern Conference. Their reward? A date with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had dominated the regular season with a jaw-dropping 128 points and tied the NHL single-season record with 62 wins. What happened next was nothing short of legendary: the Blue Jackets became the first team ever to sweep a Presidents' Trophy winner in the first round.

While Vegas's series win against Utah won't make the history books as a monumental upset, it's still a remarkable achievement for a team that turned to Tortorella under unusual circumstances. After being dismissed by the Philadelphia Flyers in March 2025, Tortorella spent most of the season without an NHL job. He kept his competitive edge sharp by helping Team USA capture gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics as an assistant coach.

Then came the call from Vegas. With just eight games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights made the bold decision to fire Stanley Cup-winning coach Bruce Cassidy and hand the reins to Tortorella. The veteran coach took over on March 29 and immediately sparked a turnaround, guiding the team to a perfect 7-0-1 finish down the stretch.

Now, with a first-round series win under their belts, the Golden Knights are proving that sometimes the right coach at the right moment can make all the difference. For Tortorella, it's another reminder that in hockey, as in life, the best stories often start with an unexpected twist.