2. High-danger goals
Under Tortorella, the Golden Knights lead the NHL in high-danger goals this postseason (32) and rank second in high-danger shots on goal (123). Vegas forwards Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden each scored a high-danger goal in Game 1 against Colorado and are tied for the NHL lead in high-danger goals (six each) during the playoffs.
Mitch Marner, who’s Vegas’ top Conn Smythe Trophy contender this postseason, ranks tied for third in high-danger goals (five). Over Marner’s previous four postseasons combined with the Toronto Maple Leafs dating back to the start of the puck and player tracking era (since 2021-22), Marner only scored one high-danger goal, making him another success story for Tortorella. Marner is also fifth in high-danger shots on goal this postseason (16), including three such shots in Game 2.
In addition to Vegas’ penalty kill prowess, the team has also carried over its strong power play into the playoffs under Tortorella. The Golden Knights have the best power-play percentage among remaining teams (25.0) after ranking sixth out of the 32 teams during the regular season (24.6). Vegas, as a team, leads the playoffs in goals (51) and has three of the League leaders in goals: Dorofeyev and Howden (10 each; tied for first), as well as Marner (seven; tied for third).
Vegas also has scoring threats from perimeter shooting zones. Dorofeyev is tied for second in midrange goals this postseason (three), and Theodore is tied for second among defensemen in midrange goals (two; behind Bowen Byram’s three). Theodore also ranks second in the playoffs in long-range shots on goal (19) and is tied for the lead in 80-plus mph shot attempts (25).
