Golden Knights seek second Stanley Cup in four years as series tied with Hurricanes

The Vegas Golden Knights are two victories away from securing their second Stanley Cup in four years as they face the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL Final. The series is currently tied 2-2, with Game 5 scheduled for Tuesday in Las Vegas. The Hurricanes aim to even the series and reclaim home-ice advantage in the upcoming contest, while a win for Vegas would place them in a commanding position to close out the championship.

Hockey historian Eric Zweig has placed the Golden Knights on the shortlist of the greatest expansion franchises in NHL history. Zweig suggested that another Stanley Cup victory could elevate the team into the conversation for the best expansion franchise in league history, noting that achieving success in a 32-team league is more difficult than in previous eras due to the increased number of playoff rounds and competitors.

Zweig compared the Golden Knights' rapid ascent to historic expansion teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and Edmonton Oilers. The Flyers, who joined the league in 1967, won Cups in 1974 and 1975. The Islanders, who debuted in 1972, won four consecutive Cups starting in 1980. The Oilers, who joined via merger in 1979, won five Cups over seven seasons, including four with Wayne Gretzky.

The Golden Knights have reached the Stanley Cup Final three times in their nine-year existence. Their locker room contains players with significant experience, including forward Brett Howden, who was part of the 2023 championship team. Howden highlighted the value of this experience, noting that the leadership and composure displayed during adversity speak volumes about the team's makeup. Other notable players such as Mitch Marner, Rasmus Andersson, and Tomas Hertl are still chasing their first title.

Hertl, who reached the Final with San Jose in 2016, expressed confidence in the team's composition and history. He reflected on previous playoff runs and the resilience required to return to the Final. Coach John Tortorella attributed the team's composure during high-scoring, momentum-swinging games to the mental resilience of players who have "been there" before.

The current series has been characterised by high scoring and significant momentum shifts. The Golden Knights overcame a two-goal deficit in Game 1 and escaped double overtime in Game 3 after blowing a four-goal lead. Tortorella stated that the team does not panic, relying on the mental skills of players who have navigated the playoff process previously.

While the team is not overly concerned with historical comparisons, they are focused on surviving the unpredictable nature of the series. Zweig noted that Vegas is head and shoulders above expansion teams from the 1990s onwards. The outcome of Game 5 and the remainder of the series remains undecided, with the next match scheduled for Tuesday in Las Vegas.