Deep playoff runs have become the standard for the young franchise. Including this season, Vegas has reached the conference finals—or semifinal round in 2021—five times. The Golden Knights have also missed the playoffs just once since entering the NHL in 2017. Winning has become part of the culture in the desert.

But this year feels different.

Vegas’ path back to the Final hasn’t followed the blueprint most contenders rely on. In many ways, the Golden Knights’ run has been an anomaly.

With eight games left in the regular season and sitting just four points away from being out of the playoffs, Vegas made the bold decision to fire head coach Bruce Cassidy. At the time, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said that he felt that the team had lost its spirit and energy.

“We've gone from first to second to third to fighting for a playoff spot,” he said when announcing the move. “We waited as long as we could on this. We just felt that we needed to bring a different person in to lead our team at this time."

That replacement was John Tortorella, one of the NHL’s most demanding and polarizing coaches. A coach who, while having won a few playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2004, hadn’t made it past the second round since the 2011-12 season with the New York Rangers. 

Turns out, however, he was exactly what the team needed. 

“We just knew that it was a bit of a wakeup call for everyone and knew that we needed to be better,” Vegas forward Mitch Marner said earlier in the playoffs. 

The wakeup call was a coach whose no-nonsense approach has led to a collective buy-in of the message. 

The Tortorella defensive system is known for shot-blocking and taking away the middle of the ice. In the playoffs, Vegas is giving up the lowest-quality scoring chances out of any other playoff team. 

Offensively, the Golden Knights have also found a more attacking style. Rather than sit back and wait for the play to develop, Vegas forces it to develop. Since the coaching change on March 30, the Golden Knights lead the NHL in goals off the rush with 22. In the playoffs, they have 15, behind only Montreal (16).

After winning Game 4, captain Mark Stone said that Tortorella gave them a “shot of adrenaline” when they needed it. 

“His attitude, the way he addresses the team, it’s contagious,” Stone said, adding that he feels like Tortorella trusts the players.

Vegas is now 19-4-1 under Tortorella. Four more wins, and Vegas’ shocking late-season gamble will be complete.