The Vegas Golden Knights are heading back to the Western Conference Final, and they're bringing some familiar faces from Vancouver's past along for the ride.

When the Golden Knights hired former Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella on March 29—just eight games before the end of the regular season—few could have predicted the immediate turnaround. Since taking over, Vegas has lost only five games combined in the regular season and playoffs. That's the kind of momentum that wins championships.

After dispatching the Utah Mammoth in six games during the first round, the Golden Knights faced a hungry Anaheim Ducks team that had just eliminated the Edmonton Oilers. Vegas handled the challenge, closing out the series in six games to punch their ticket to the Conference Final, where they'll face the Colorado Avalanche.

This marks the fifth time in nine franchise seasons that Vegas has reached the Conference Final. The Golden Knights have made two Stanley Cup Final appearances—losing to Washington in their inaugural 2018 season and hoisting the Cup in 2023. They've only missed the playoffs once in their history (2022), proving that sustained success is part of their DNA.

For Tortorella, this postseason run carries special weight. The veteran coach has made the playoffs 13 times in his career and won the Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004. But this is only his second trip to the Conference Finals—his first came with the New York Rangers in 2012. In his lone season behind the Canucks bench, Vancouver went 36-35-11 and missed the playoffs entirely. Now, he's got Vegas playing some of the best hockey in the league.

Joining Tortorella on this run are a couple of familiar names for Canucks fans. Nic Dowd, who played 40 games in Vancouver before spending nearly eight seasons in Washington, has been a clutch performer for Vegas. While he didn't register a point against the Ducks in the second round, Dowd was instrumental in the first round against Utah, scoring the game-winner in Game 1 and adding another goal in Game 3.

Then there's Ben Hutton, the ex-Canuck who spent the most time in Vancouver among current Golden Knights. After sitting out the first-round series, Hutton returned to the lineup against Anaheim and has provided steady depth on the blue line—the kind of reliable presence every deep playoff run needs.

With the Western Conference Final set, these former Canucks have a chance to add another chapter to their playoff story. And for fans who remember their time in Vancouver, it's a reminder that the path to the Stanley Cup often runs through familiar faces.