Welcome to another Vegas Golden Knights’ Gameday Preview. After four games, the Golden Knights and the Utah Mammoth find themselves in a tied series. The series has become a best-of-five, with both teams just two wins away from the next round. It is time to jump into the preview for Game 5 of this first-round series.
Golden Knights’ Gameday Preview: Game 5 vs. Mammoth (Series Tied 2-2)
The Golden Knights managed to even the series with a 5-4 win in overtime in Game 4. Shea Theodore provided the overtime heroics with the winning goal at 19:08 of overtime.
It was not a perfect game for the Golden Knights, who did see a 3-0 lead disappear in the second period. However, they got the win when it was all said and done. That is what matters.
Golden Knights’ Game 5 Projected Lineup (Subject to Change)
- Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Brett Howden
- Reilly Smith – Mitch Marner – Mark Stone
- Pavel Dorofeyev – Tomas Hertl – Keegan Kolesar
- Cole Smith – Nic Dowd – Colton Sissons
- Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore
- Noah Hanifin – Rasmus Andersson
- Jeremy Lauzon – Kaedan Korczak
- Carter Hart/Adin Hill
Golden Knights’ Playoff Team Leaders
Eichel leads the team with six points and five assists. Barbashev, Stone, Howden, and Dowd are all tied for the team lead in goals with two each. Smith and Andersson each lead with six penalty minutes. Lastly, Smith leads the Golden Knights with a plus-4 rating.
In goal, Hart is the only Vegas goaltender to see action. In four games, he has a 3.08 goals-against average (GAA) and a .896 save percentage (SV%).
Storyline #1 – Consistent Resilience
The Golden Knights won Game 4 despite blowing a 3-0 lead. Furthermore, a Dorofeyev goal in overtime was waved off after it was determined Eichel entered the zone offside. For many teams, this series of unfortunate events would have resulted in them losing the game. Instead, the Golden Knights stuck with it. Their resilience willed them to the win and an even series.
Game 5 is an opportunity to show that the resilience is not a fluke, but a core trait of this Vegas team. They are the more experienced team than the Mammoth, and this is an opportunity to further prove it. In short, the Golden Knights need to make the Mammoth regret not finishing them in Game 4.
To quote Randy Marsh, Vegas simply “didn’t hear no bell.”
Storyline #2 – The Mammoth Will Not Roll Over
The Mammoth have come to compete. They are not settling for a “feel-good story” of making the playoffs in just their first season in Utah. No, they are here to make noise.
The Mammoth lost Game 1, but followed that with two wins. They trailed 3-0 in Game 4, but managed to rally back with four unanswered goals. The Mammoth are simply refusing to roll over against an experienced Vegas team.
The Golden Knights need to be prepared for the Mammoth to bring their best in Game 5. The Mammoth have shown they can compete, and sometimes outplay, the Golden Knights. This has the makings of the classic “trap game.” All signs point to a Vegas win, but the Mammoth are more than capable of walking into T-Mobile Arena and walking out with another win. For the Golden Knights, they just need to stick to their game and not underestimate their opponent.
Storyline #3 – “Please Tell Me the Odds”
Han Solo may not agree, but the odds of winning a series after winning Game 5 in a tied series is worth mentioning.
A team that wins Game 5 of a tied series goes on to win 79.4% of the time. Furthermore, the home team in Game 5 of a tied series goes on to win 58.5% of the time.
The odds are in the Golden Knights’ favor. Of course, there is a reason we play the games. The odds are fun to talk about, but anything can happen once the puck drops.
How to Watch Golden Knights vs. Mammoth Game 5
Locally, the game can be viewed on SCRIPPS. Nationally, it will be on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.
Free Newsletter
Get Vegas Golden Knights coverage delivered to your inbox
In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes – free.
