The stars come out as Golden Knights clinch Western Conference Final berth

Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) skates with the puck during a Stanley Cup Playoff game against the Anaheim Ducks on May 14, 2026 in Anaheim, CA. In my preview of Game Six earlier this morning, one of the points mentioned how the Vegas Golden Knights needed their stars to continue producing. Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden were turning into lights-out shooters that could score at a moment’s notice.

Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel were making plays that most NHL players would never even attempt to create. Carter Hart was turning into a wall in net at key points throughout the postseason. If the Golden Knights wanted to secure their fifth appearance in the Conference Finals in nine years, they would need similar performances, if not more.

As was the case in the first round against the Utah Mammoth, the Golden Knights saved their best performance for last, soundly defeating the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Thursday to close their second round series out in Game Six. Just past the one minute mark of the opening period, the fireworks began. Marner found a way to get behind Anaheim defenseman Jackson LaCombe, then warded off the contact before shaking him off.

Marner would then pull off a move reminiscent of William Karlsson (who, ironically enough, landed a perfect stretch pass to start the sequence) in the inaugural season and tuck the puck over a sprawling Lukas Dostal between his own legs to open the scoring and score his 10th point of the series. The penalty kill would then get the opportunity to make more magic again. With Cole Smith off for tripping, Marner would catch a pair of Anaheim defenders watching the puck, allowing Howden the opportunity to slip behind them and directly to the back door.