It’s playoff time in the NHL, which means it’s not time for style points. It’s only about winning, however you might create such an end result.
You might not play your best and yet still discover success on the scoreboard.
Take the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night.
They were outplayed by Anaheim in Game 1 of a best-of seven series — “We were not good,” Knights coach John Tortorella said — and still prevailed 3-1.
That’s all that matters.
The Ducks could score six goals in Game 2 on Wednesday night and if the Knights score seven, nobody will question the outcome on their side of the ledger. Or shouldn’t, at least.
It’s all about the bottom line. The end result.
First to four wins advances.
Mostly bad
“That’s a key in the playoffs,” Tortorella said. “This is a find-a-way league. You watch teams throughout the playoffs find ways to win when they really don’t deserve it. We did that (Monday) night. But there’s only so many kicks at the can at that. So we need to be ready to play a better Game 2.”
He said there was some good on film but not much. The next time he gets into specifics about an opponent will be the first.
But this was obvious: The Knights in no way got off the fast start Tortorella preaches. They were actually outplayed for a good 40 minutes and yet still led 1-0 after two periods.
Noah Hanifin says it was an opportunity to learn. The Knights’ defenseman is sure his team will build off Game 1 and be better for it. He’s sure there is sound hockey coming from the home side at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.
“I think there are definitely areas we can improve on that we’ll figure out and talk about,” Hanifin said. “But just to close it out at the end of the game was important for us.
“The first (period) wasn’t our best but as the game went along we cleaned things up a bit and started transitioning the puck quicker, playing faster. Something we’ll have to continue to build on. … It will be a good series, for sure.”
You can’t state enough how important the Vegas penalty kill has been for that bottom line, for beating Utah in six games and now gaining an early lead against Anaheim.
When all else is failing, it has bailed out the Knights.
Who are 19-of-20 on kills throughout the playoffs.
Um, that’s good.
The communication is spot on. Guys are reading off each other well. Carter Hart is a goalie playing lights out right now. It all adds up to denying power play scoring opportunities for the other guys.
Things weren’t as chippy in Game 1 on Monday than they were during the Utah series. The extra-curricular activities after whistles weren’t as pronounced.
Games get more important as the playoffs move forward. You check yourself more. Discipline tends to be an overriding factor for most.
“I think that’s really important this time of year,” Hanifin said. “(Anaheim) has a really good power play, and I think we do too. Both teams are trying to be smart out there and not serve penalties.”
Said Tortorella: “I don’t think (either) team wants to get down a man.”
Games are now every other day, so it’s important to wash away one result and get onto the next challenge. It’s important to take the good with the bad and become a more complete team from it.
A mindset
“We better reset,” Tortorella said. “We’ll show our tape (Wednesday) in the morning meetings. I trust the group in knowing they know we have to be much better.
“(Starting fast) is a mindset. That’s guys being ready. I think it comes to anticipation skills. To me, it’s not a physical skill. It’s your readiness and we were certainly void of that.”
But they won.
They lead the series.
Anaheim is chasing them.
If you’re the Knights, nothing else matters. That’s the playoffs.
Nobody is here for style points.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
