Golden Knights Clinch 2026 Playoff Spot in OT Win vs. Avalanche

The Vegas Golden Knights clinched a berth in the 2026 National Hockey League playoffs on Saturday with an overtime victory over the Colorado Avalanche, marking the eighth postseason appearance in the franchise's nine-year history. The win capped a remarkable late-season turnaround under new head coach John Tortorella, who took over on March 30 after the team fired Bruce Cassidy amid a slump that had left them clinging to third place in the Pacific Division.

The coaching change came with just eight regular-season games remaining, as the Golden Knights sought a spark following an 8-15-4 stretch. At the time, they trailed the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings by four points. Tortorella, a veteran coach last dismissed by the Philadelphia Flyers in March 2025, brought immediate energy and emphasis on mental toughness over tactical overhauls. "The biggest part of hockey now, I don't think it's the Xs and Os. I do think it's your mind," Tortorella said at his introductory news conference.

The results validated the move. Vegas posted a 5-0-1 record in Tortorella's first six games, scoring more goals and improving defensively while climbing to the top of the Pacific. The surge included four...