Golden Knights punch ticket to 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are returning to Sin City.

While the Vegas Golden Knights were in action Tuesday night against the Pacific Division rival Edmonton Oilers, the Nevada-based club got some help from its neighboring Utah Hockey Club whose 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames helped the Golden Knights punch their ticket to the postseason.

With the feat, it marks the seventh time in the franchise’s eight-year history that the Golden Knights will compete for the Stanley Cup. Two years ago, the Golden Knights won it all, defeating the Florida Panthers in five games. It also marked the second time that the club had advanced to the final round following a five-game exit to the Washington Capitals in its inaugural campaign.

This season, the Golden Knights have been headlined by 28-year-old Massachusetts native Jack Eichel who entering Tuesday action had recorded a franchise-record 93 points through 72 appearances, ecliping teammate William Karlsson’s 78-point showing that came during the 2017-18 season. The offensive centerpiece when the Golden Knights hoisted Lord Stanley two years ago, Eichel paced the 2023 postseason with a league-leading 26 points counting six goals and 20 assists coming in 22 playoff outings.

Beyond Eichel, the Golden Knights also boast a formidable blue line led by 29-year-old British Columbia-born rearguard Shea Theodore who despite being limited to 58 appearances this season has notched near point-per-game production counting seven goals and 44 assists, putting him just one point shy of his career-high 52-point finish that came with the Golden Knights in 2021-22. Elsewhere, the Golden Knights’ back end also features stand out defensemen Noah Hanifin as well as two-time Stanley Cup champion Alex Pietrangelo, who first won it all in 2019 as part of the St. Louis Blues before capturing his second title with Vegas in 2023.

Entering Tuesday action, the Golden Knights sat atop the Pacific Division with 98 points.