The Vegas Golden Knights delivered a blunt message in their 4-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth on Sunday: they are willing to get physical when it matters. The team recorded 51 hits in a game that featured 82 total, a stark contrast to their regular-season average of 20.49 hits per game, which ranked 14th in the league.
Keegan Kolesar led the charge with a team-high nine hits. “I think that’s the message,” Kolesar said. “Any team going into a playoff series is going to be physical with the opponent and see the distance their willing to go.” Kolesar, who finished seventh in the league with 270 hits during the regular season, believes the physical style is sustainable. “That’s what we play all year for,” he said. “It’s a style of play. It’s not like none of us are out there checking this season.”
Winger Ivan Barbashev also contributed eight hits and scored an empty-net goal to seal the win. Defenseman Brayden McNabb emphasized the team’s versatility. “I think we’re a big team,” he said. “We can play a lot of different styles. Being physical is just the playoffs. That’s how it is. It’s an important part this time of year. We have guys that can do it throughout the lineup.”
The physicality escalated as the game progressed. Of the 16 penalty minutes handed out, 12 were roughing penalties, including a headbutt by Utah defenseman Sean Durzi on Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersson in the first period, which drew only a roughing call. Utah left wing Lawson Crouse matched Kolesar with nine hits for the Mammoth.
Coach John Tortorella praised the team’s resilience, especially after trailing 1-0 after the first period and 2-1 after the second. He declined to specify areas for improvement publicly. “The stuff we need to work on, we’re going to keep that in the room,” Tortorella said. “There’s always some good stuff after games. There’s always some stuff you need to improve on. We had a good meeting today, and we’ll be ready to play our next one.”
The Knights now look to take a 2-0 series lead in Game 2 on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena. Historically, Game 2 has been a challenge for the team, which holds a 10-8 record in the second game of a best-of-7 series and a 7-7 mark at home. The series shifts to Salt Lake City for Game 3 on Friday.
