The Vegas Golden Knights are heading into Game Five with their eyes on the prize and zero panic in the locker room. The second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks is tied 2-2, and Tuesday night's matchup in Las Vegas is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in this postseason battle.
Game Four was the tightest contest of the series so far, with the Ducks managing to even things up. But for the Golden Knights, this feels familiar. They've been here before. Just like in the first round against the Utah Mammoth, they're facing a younger, scrappy team that refuses to back down. And just like then, the Knights aren't sweating it.
"I have zero worries about this team as far as how we're going to go about the next few games here, wherever it goes to," head coach John Tortorella said after Game Four. "I have total trust."
That confidence is contagious, and it's exactly what the team needs as they look to reclaim the series lead. But they'll have to do it without their captain, Mark Stone, who was ruled out before morning skate. Defenseman Jeremy Lauzon is also sidelined, and the team has recalled Braeden Bowman from the Henderson Silver Knights to add depth. Stone's absence is a blow—he's a player who does it all on the ice—but the Golden Knights are built on a "next-man-up" mentality.
"Obviously, that's a big piece, but it's kind of that next-man-up mentality," forward Brett Howden said. "Having Stone in the lineup is a huge asset to us."
Game Five has historically been a turning point for the Golden Knights. They've faced tough tests in these moments before, taking down the Colorado Avalanche in 2021 and the Edmonton Oilers in 2023. Both times, they found a way to win. Now, with the series hanging in the balance, they're ready to do it again.
The key will be putting pressure on the Ducks early and carrying that momentum into Game Six back in Anaheim. If the Golden Knights can stick to their game plan and trust each other, there's no reason to think they can't come out on top. After all, this is a team that thrives when the stakes are high.